BANNER ELK, N.C. --- Four Lees-McRae players registered at least a dozen kills, but the women's volleyball team was clipped 25-20, 26-24, 26-28, 13-25, 21-23, in a five-set thriller to Conference Carolinas foe Belmont Abbey Saturday afternoon at Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.
The Crusaders (14-9, 8-4 CC) relied heavily on the arm of Hannah Schellenberg, who led all players with 35 kills. The Bobcats (5-18, 4-8) had five players with double-digit digs, including a match-high 24 from Madison Martin (Goldsboro, N.C.)
LMC clinched a postseason spot despite the loss after Pfeiffer fell to King (Tenn.) earlier in the day.
Junior Haylee Leonard (Wallburg, N.C.) used two of her 12 kills early in the first to give coach William Tatge's squad a 5-1 advantage.
BAC's Gabby Martinez placed an ace before a Coreen Norwood kill to shave the deficit to two, 17-15.
The Bobcats fended off the charge with strong play from Avalon Liscio (Naples, Fla.) and Rachel Cutshaw (Whitesburg, Tenn.).
Liscio led LMC with 15 kills while Cutshaw chipped in with six.
BAC grabbed a 16-11 lead in the second after a Schellenberg kill. She finished the match 73 total attacks.
The Bobcats used a Jordan Banta (Virginia Beach, Va.) ace and Jariliz Cotté (Baymon, Puerto Rico) kill to rip off an 8-2 run.
Laneica Williams (Conover, N.C.) and Leonard stuffed a Norwood attack, giving the home squad a 20-19 advantage.
The Crusaders pushed LMC to the brink after a trio of Schellenberg kills, but LMC responded with a 5-0 run to claim the set.
The third set provided as much entertainment as the second when it saw 14 ties and six lead changes.
Leonard had a solo block and a block assist to help LMC climb out of a 15-10 hole.
BAC eventually claimed the set after three more Schellenberg kills.
The Crusaders led wire-to-wire in the fourth while hitting a match-best .441.
Martin tallied consecutive aces in the decisive set to tie it at four.
The fifth had 19 ties and nine lead changes.
The Bobcats staved off match point on five occasions while five different players had a kill to keep it a one-point match.
Schellenberg and Caitlin Hankins used consecutive kills to wrap up the thrilling contest.
Martinez led all players with 65 assists while LMC's Allyson Schillinger (Spring Hill, Fla.) had 32.
The Bobcats travel to Converse Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.
- LMC -
