Coach Dave Schmidlin Interview
Sophomore John Sobel Interview
BANNER ELK, N.C. --- The duo of John Sobel and Brady Markle combined for 35 kills and the defense amassed 10 total blocks while the Lees-McRae men's volleyball team defeated Emmanuel (Ga.), 25-11, 18-25, 25-21, 25-21 in Conference Carolinas action Saturday afternoon in Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.
The Bobcats (3-14, 2-11 CC) swung better than .260 in three of the four sets while a trio of players had four block assists each. The Lions (4-17, 2-14) were led by Peter-Daniel Basson's nine kills.
Markle (York, Pa.) has amassed 20 kills or more in seven matches this season, including three consecutive contests.
The junior spearheaded an 11-0 run by scorching the EC defense with five service aces and a kill.
Sophomore Mark Shayka (Hamilton, Va.) contributed two of his kills in the first set while LMC swung at a match-best .375 and cruised to the first set victory.
The Lions' Steven Peruyero sparked a 4-0 early in the second by notching two kills and a block assists, 12-6.
Coach Dave Schmidlin's squad responded loudly with a 7-1 run while Shayka tallied a trio of block assists.
EC overcame a one-point deficit to take a 20-13 lead after strong play from Jordan Funk.
Funk led all players with eight digs.
A Keenan Freitas (Mountain View, Hawaii) block and Markle kill cut the lead to four, 21-17, but EC would hold strong and take the set 25-18.
Sobel (Holbrook, N.Y.) caught fire in the third, collecting five of his 15 kills to spark a 9-3 run.
The Bobcats would lead by as many as eight, 20-12. However, EC chiseled it down to two, 23-21, after a pair of Basson kills.
A Lion attack error and Markle kill gave the home team a two-sets to one lead.
Sophomore Rudy Klaas (Dakar, Senegal) got in the mix with two kills to jumpstart an LMC 8-2 run in the middle of the fourth.
EC displayed some feisty play and cut the lead to two, 20-18.
Junior Drew Blecher (York, Pa.) assisted on two blocks and dished out an assist while the Bobcats staved off the rally attempt.
Blecher paved the way with 32 assists while Markle accumulated eight service aces in the contest.
LMC welcomes King (Tenn.) Wednesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. to Williams Gymnasium for a CC tilt.
- LMC -
