BANNER ELK, N.C. --- Junior Haylee Leonard impressed with seven blocks assists and Madison Martin produced a match-high 21 digs, but the Lees-McRae women's volleyball team dropped an 18-25, 22-25, 23-25 decision to Conference Carolinas foe King (Tenn.) Wednesday evening at Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.
The Tornado (5-7, 2-2 CC) had three players with at least 10 digs while Olivia Underwood led all players with 26 assists. The Bobcats (2-10, 1-3) had a trio of players with 11 digs or more.
Both offenses struggled and failed to hit better than .120 in any set.
King jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first, powered by a pair of Ashleigh Manke kills.
Manke led the Tornado with 10 kills while senior Jariliz Cotté had 10 of her own for the Bobcats.
LMC cut the deficit to three, 12-9, following a Rachel Cutshaw (Whitesburg, Tenn.) kill.
The Tornado kept the Bobcats at arm's length and stretched the lead to eight, 23-15, following a Lauren Willoughby kill and would eventually take the set after a Manke kill.
King kept the ball rolling into the second by grabbing a 12-1 lead.
Coach William Tatge's squad proved resilient and cut the deficit to one, 19-18, after a pair of Avalon Liscio (Naples, Fla.) kills and Leonard (Wallburg, N.C.) block assists.
Leonard delivered one of her eight kills to knot the contest at 20.
Willoughby delivered two more kills while the Tornado snuck away with the second set after a 5-2 run.
The third set was a see-saw battle early while a Cotté kill gave LMC an early 6-5 advantage.
King rallied back with a 12-5 run following a pair of Manke kills, 17-11.
The Bobcats dug deep and used a Jordan Banta (Virginia Beach, Va.) kill to shave the disadvantage to two, 21-19.
After King pushed LMC to the brink, 24-20, the Bobcats responded once more and cut it to one after Liscio and Leonard stuffed a Willoughby attack.
The Tornado took advantage of a Grace Underwood kill to conclude play.
Martin (Goldsboro, N.C.) has double-digit dig efforts in 11 of LMC's 12 matches, including three of 21 or more.
The Bobcats will enjoy a six-day break from action before traveling to Wingate at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sep. 29. The game will televised on ESPN3.
- LMC -
