BELMONT, N.C. –
Nicole Osborne recorded her first collegiate double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs as Lees-McRae women's volleyball thwarted a Belmont Abbey rally in the five-set victory.
Sydney Stigler tallied a match-high 14 kills to go along with 15 digs for the Bobcats.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae def. Belmont Abbey, 3-2 (25-21, 25-13, 23-25, 19-25, 15-10)
LOCATION: Wheeler Center -- Belmont, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (12-7/9-2); Belmont Abbey (4-16/4-8)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lees-McRae, as a team, had a .150 hitting percentage, in five sets and held Belmont Abbey to .037 on the night. The Bobcats registered a .364 hitting percentage in the fifth and final set to close the match.
- The two teams traded points throughout the first set, but Lees-McRae pushed ahead at 23-20 after back-to-back errors by the Crusaders. Madison Goins and Destiny Holley combined for the double block to give the Bobcats the set advantage at 25-21.
- Lees-McRae continued the momentum in the second set with five straight points to open the set on the serve of Rebecca Ryan. The Bobcats collected the two-set lead after a dominant 25-13 set performance with a .308 hitting percentage and four service aces.
- Belmont Abbey bounced in the third with a 25-23 set victory after a kill from Crusader Cameron Young. The Crusaders sent the match into a decisive fifth set after a 25-19 victory in the fourth set.
- Hailey Gilreath and Holley started the fifth for the Bobcats with a double block and Stigler pushed the Bobcat to 2-0 after a kill. Ryan gave Lees-McRae the three-point margin at 8-5 after her second kill in a 3-0 run for the Bobcats. Holley and Stigler closed the match with a double block at 15-10 as Lees-McRae remained perfect in Conference Carolinas Northwest Division play at 5-0.
- Gilreath and Holley each had eight kills in tonight's win and Holley contributed eight total blocks. Lauren Xayavong tallied a match-high 22 digs for the Bobcats and Madison Goins dished out 38 assists to go along with 12 digs and two aces in the contest.
FOR THE CRUSADERS:
- Tyler Case chipped in a double-double for Belmont Abbey with 12 kills and 19 digs. Cameron Young joined Case in double figures with 10 kills and 14 digs.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Lees-McRae has now earned at least a share of the Conference Carolinas Northwest Division title with tonight's win.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae heads to the campus of UNC Pembroke for a matchup with the Braves Friday night at 6 p.m. Lees-McRae will face Francis Marion on Saturday afternoon to conclude their three-match road trip.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
