BANNER ELK, N.C. –
Ethan Gardner and
Max Kuntz combined for 23 kills and eight block assists to lead the Lees-McRae men's volleyball to their first win of the 2021 season in a thrilling five-set match against Belmont Abbey this evening in the Williams Gymnasium.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae def. Belmont Abbey, 3-2 (25-14, 16-25, 17-25, 27-25, 18-16)
LOCATION: Williams Gymnasium – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (1-13/1-8), Belmont Abbey (7-5/4-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Gardner finished with a team-high 12 kills to go along with a solo block and three block assists, while Kuntz chipped in 11 kills, five block assists, and six digs.
- Michael Marsans added nine kills and five block assists.
- Riley Chapman tallied 37 set assists and six digs, while Steven Nalls posted a team-high eight digs.
- Lees-McRae sprinted out of the gates with an 11-1 run in the first set and closed on a kill from Kuntz to claim a 25-14 victory in the first set.
- Belmont Abbey recaptured the momentum with a 25-16 win in set two and extended their sets lead to 2-1 with a 25-17 victory in set three.
- The Bobcats responded by converting timely points in the fourth set to find themselves up 24-19.
- The Crusaders scored the next five points to even the score at 24-24, but a service error by Belmont Abbey and a pair of kills by Marsans gave the Bobcats a 27-25 win in set four.
- The thrilling five-set match came to a close as Lees-McRae posted a pair of late blocks and a final kill by M.J. Doyle to clinch their first win of the season.
- The Crusaders finished with a 67-46 edge in kills but were out-blocked 12-4 in the match.
FOR THE FOES:
- Matteo Miselli finished with a game-high 27 kills to pace the Crusaders.
- Brian Long chipped in 14 digs, while Brennan Davis added 47 set assists.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats have a week off before they host Limestone in a non-conference contest on Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
