CENTRAL, S.C. --- Senior Jordan Banta led the team with 12 kills, but the Lees-McRae women's volleyball team was swept, 18-25, 23-25, 15-25, at Southern Wesleyan in a Conference Carolinas tilt Saturday afternoon in Tysinger Gymnasium in Central, S.C.
The Warriors (7-4, 2-0 CC) swung .300 or better in two of the three sets while Megan Widener delivered five service aces. The Bobcats (2-9, 1-2) saw senior Allyson Schillinger (Spring Hill, Fla.) produce her sixth match of 20 assists or more.
Banta (Virginia Beach, Va.) used two early kills to give LMC a 2-1 advantage in the first. SWU responded loudly with a 12-3 run, thanks to four aces.
The Bobcats would shave the deficit to five on three occasions, but was unable to overcome the feat.
Junior Haylee Leonard (Wallburg, N.C.) earned a block assist and two kills in the opening frame.
Coach William Tatge's squad broke an 11-all tie following consecutive kills from sophomore Rachel Cutshaw (Whitesburg, Tenn.).
LMC kept the lead at two after a pair of Avalon Liscio (Naples, Fla.) kills, 16-14.
The Warriors charged back with a 4-0 run, sparked by back-to-back kills from Kendall Vallancourt.
SWU stretched its lead to four, 24-20, after Sarah Hughey chimed in with two kills.
Despite kills from Cutshaw and Siarra Walker (Winston-Salem, N.C.), LMC fell short in the second set.
The Bobcats hit a team-high .308.
SWU returned the favor by swinging at a match-best .323 in the third.
Senior Jariliz Cotté and Liscio ignited an early 4-0 run in the third, giving LMC a 10-7 advantage.
The Warriors bounced back with a 15-2 run and used a Paige O'Connor kill to conclude play.
Sophomore Courtney Weahters (Raleigh, N.C.) dished out 14 assists while Madison Martin (Goldsboro, N.C.) amassed 13 digs.
LMC plays its home opener against King (Tenn.) Wednesday, Sep. 23 at 7 p.m. in Williams Gymnasium.
- LMC -
