SPARTANBURG, S.C. –
Caitlyn Smirne,
Hanna Steckler and
Kaden Hill all finished with double-digit kills, but it was not enough as Converse rallied past the visiting Bobcats in four sets to claim the Conference Carolinas victory this evening.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Converse def. Lees-McRae, 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 25-20)
LOCATION: Tom & Tracy Hannah Gymnasium – Spartanburg, South Carolina
RECORDS: Converse (3-2/3-2), Lees-McRae (5-4/2-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Smirne posted her second double-double in as many games, finishing with a game-high 18 kills and 12 digs.
- Steckler tallied 13 kills and two block assists, while Hill chipped in 10 kills and a .316 hitting percentage.
- Carlee Allbaugh added 39 assists and Lauren Xayavong finished with a game-high 27 digs.
- Lees-McRae used a late 4-1 run to claim a 22-19 lead in the first set and survived a 4-0 run by the Valkyries to claim a 25-23 win in set one. Hill, Allbaugh and Olivia Ney all posted late kills to claim the frame.
- The Bobcats rallied in the second stanza to even the score at 18-18 but failed to shift momentum as Converse closed on a 7-2 run to win set two, 25-20.
- Lees-McRae sprinted out of the gates in the third set, winning 19 of the first 27 points, but a Valkyrie run evened the score at 24-24.
- After trading points for the next seven serves, Converse posted a late service ace to win the third set, 30-28.
- The Valkyries clinched the four-set victory with a 25-20 win in set four.
- Converse held a slim 53-52 edge in kills, while holding a 13-5 advantage in service aces.
FOR THE FOES:
- Jasmine Finkley and Brittany Tepedino finished with 17 and 13 kills respectively to lead the Valkyries.
- Savannah Ducote finished with a game-high 44 assists.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will return to the Williams Gymnasium on Friday as they host Southern Wesleyan a 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).
