NEWBERRY, S.C. --- The Lees-McRae women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on its opening day against Mars Hill and Newberry Friday at Eleazer Arena in Newberry, S.C.
Mars Hill 3, Lees-McRae 2
The Lions (1-0) saw a pair of players produced double-digit kills while hitting a match-best .343 in the fourth set. The Bobcats (0-1) saw sophomore Madison Martin (Goldsboro, N.C.) play lights defense with 47 digs while Jariliz Cotté (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) led a quartet of players with 14 kills.
Coach William Tatge's squad dominated the first set by holding MHU to a match-low -.077 hitting percentage.
The Bobcats rushed out to a 5-1 lead thanks to a pair of kills from senior Jordan Banta (Virginia Beach, Va.) and four assists from senior Allyson Schillinger (Spring Hill, Fla.)
Tied at 16, junior Avalon Liscio (Naples, Fla.) took charge with a pair kills and a block assist, extending LMC's lead to 21-16.
The Lions tied it at one-set apiece thanks a 15-9 run late in the second while using strong play from Lauren Hochstetler.
The third set provided some entertainment while it remained close until the end.
Sophomore Courtney Weathersbee (Raleigh, N.C.) was a key component, distributing four assists and a block assist, breaking a 16-16 tie.
A block from Banta and Cotté wrapped up the set.
MHU jumped out to an early 14-7 lead and never looked back while winning the set, 25-17.
The Lions clinched the battle by leading wire-to-wire in the final set. Junior Haylee Leonard (Wallburg, N.C.) contributed with a pair of kills.
Schillinger impressed with a match-high 29 assists and 15 digs. Banta stood tall with seven block assists.
Newberry 3, Lees-McRae 1
The Wolves (2-0) used a strong performance from Logan Hayward (15 kills) and Maggie Marsh (40 assists) to earn the win. The Bobcats (0-2) saw a trio of players amass double-digit kills, including 10 from transfer Rachel Cutshaw (Whitesburg, Tenn.).
LMC claimed its second first-set victory of the day behind strong play from Cotté. She used consecutive kills in the opening frame to give the Bobcats a 22-19 lead.
The teams used a service error and Liscio kill to win the set.
Newberry used a 7-1 in the second to break a 15-all tie.
LMC responding with a 6-1 run of its own, powered by a Martin ace and Banta kill.
The Wolves took advantage of a service error and mustered a block to squeak out a 28-26 win.
Hayward dished out a kill midway through the third while Newberry took advantage of strong play, grabbing a 17-6 lead.
The Wolves claimed the 25-15 win after an Alexis Bryant kill.
Newberry's success continued into the final frame when the team grabbed a 14-6 lead following a Mary Siebert kill.
LMC would shave the deficit to four on multiple occasions, but was unable to regain the lead.
The Bobcats battle UNC Pembroke and Francis Marion at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, to wrap up action at Newberry, S.C.
- LMC -
