BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae women's volleyball and Emmanuel faced off in a thrilling five-set match where the Lions took the contest, 3-2, on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court on Friday night. The Bobcats earned the Conference Carolinas Northwest Division title this evening due to Converse's loss at King.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Emmanuel def. Lees-McRae, 3-2 (25-15, 17-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12)
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (12-10/9-5); Emmanuel (17-10/12-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Destiny Holley had a match-high 16 kills on a .343 hitting percentage and added 11 total blocks and two digs. Sydney Stigler followed with 15 kills, 17 digs, and one service ace for the Bobcats. Patrycja Rykala joined Holley and Stigler with double-digit kills with 10 on a .316 hitting percentage.
- As a team, Lees-McRae hit .207 on the night with 56 kills to Emmanuel's 60 kills and .191 hitting percentage.
- The Lions jumped out to a quick set lead after taking the first set, 25-15, on a .389 hitting percentage. The Bobcats bounced back in the second set with 11 total kills and stormed out to an early 5-0 set lead. Stigler finished the set with a kill at 25-17 for the Bobcats.
- Emmanuel regained the set advantage in the third at 25-23. The Lions trailed 20-17 in the set and rattled off five consecutive points for the two-point margin at 22-20. Emmanuel's Emily Hanson earned the third set with a kill at 25-23.
- Lees-McRae rallied once more in the fourth stanza after staking out to an early 4-0 lead off a service ace from Rebecca Ryan. The Bobcats tied the set at 19 points and went on another 5-0 scoring run after a kill from Holley at 23-19. Holley closed the set for the Bobcats at 25-21 with a kill.
- In the fifth, Lees-McRae held the early 5-1 margin, but Emmanuel knotted the decisive set at 9-9 with a kill from Layla Bland. The Lions broke the tie at 11-11 and secured the match at 15-12 off a kill from Alaina Emminger.
- Madison Goins distributed a match-high 49 assists and added 13 digs for her 10th double-double of the season for the Bobcats. Lauren Xayavong, fifth-year senior for Lees-McRae. registered 15 digs and five assists.
FOR THE LIONS:
- Bland and Emminger each recorded 15 kills in the match with Bland collecting a double-double with 15 kills and 15 digs. Ellie Jackson and Emily Hanson joined their fellow teammates in double figures with 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
- Gabrielle McGlamery compiled 48 assists and 16 digs for the Lions on the evening and Asia Queen added 13 digs to her season totals.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Lees-McRae collected the Conference Carolinas Northwest Division due to Converse's five-set loss at King this evening.
- The regular-season title is the first for the Bobcats since 2011.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae women's volleyball hosts Converse tomorrow at 2 p.m. on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court with Senior Day festivities before the match for the five Bobcat seniors.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
