BANNER ELK, N.C. --- A trio of Lees-McRae players notched seven kills while the men's volleyball team suffered a 14-25, 20-25, 24-26 loss to Conference Carolinas foe Belmont Abbey Friday evening at Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.
The Crusaders (6-5, 4-3 CC) inched over the .500 mark with a 12-kill performance from Anthony Pippen while the team hit a match-best .400 in the first set. The Bobcats (1-10, 0-8) hit progressively better in each set while Mark Shayka (Hamilton, Va.) registered three block assists.
LMC grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the first, powered by a Gabriel Rivera (Cupey Bajo, Puerto Rico) kill.
BAC responded with an 18-5 run thanks to a trio of service aces.
The Crusaders never looked back and used two Bobcat attack errors to swipe the first set.
Both teams struggled offensively early in the second while they combined for seven consecutive errors.
BAC's Derek Sullivan earned two block assists while the team took a 13-7 lead following a 5-0 run.
A Shayka ace and a pair of kills from Brady Markle (York, Pa.) and John Sobel (Holbrook, N.Y.) each to cut the deficit to five, 19-14.
Sobel finished with 10 kills and a trio of digs.
Markle delivered consecutive aces, allowing the Bobcats to take a 12-8 lead in the third.
The Crusaders retorted with 9-2 run to take a 17-14 lead.
The Bobcats clawed back into it and a Sobel kill knotted the contest at 23.
BAC's Nolan Albrecht rattled off three kills before Pippen kill completed the sweep.
Sophomore Rudy Klaas (Dakar, Senegal) impressed defensively with a season-high seven digs. Junior Drew Blecher (York, Pa.) dished out a match-high 28 assists.
LMC returns to action Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. for a CC battle at North Greenville in Tigerville, S.C.
- LMC -
