Box Score

FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga - Men's volleyball took on the Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters on Saturday night. The Lions defeated the Railsplitters in their home opener, 3-1, to capture the first victory of their 2021 season. The win moves their record to 1-5. 

With 15 kills on the night, senior Don Thompson surpassed the 1,000 kill mark for his career as a Lion. Thompson's total is the highest of any Lion as he was the first player in EC men's volleyball history to reach 1,000 career kills. Emmanuel Athletics congratulates Thompson on this truly impressive accomplishment. 

The first set was a back and forth exchange. The Lions led by three points early on, but LMU managed to tie the set every time EC pulled ahead. The close match continued until the set was tied at 19, when LMU scored two straight kills to take the lead, 21-19. EC responded with a kill from Thompson, while an error from LMU tied the score. Another kill from the Railsplitters gave them the lead once again, 22-21. However, another kill from Thompson and a service ace from senior Aleksa Lakic led the Lions to a victory in the first set, 25-23. 

The Lions carried their momentum into the second set, leading 8-4 early on. The Railsplitters rallied to eventually tied the set at 14 points a piece. The momentum continued to favor LMU as they controlled the remainder of the set, taking it 25-18. 

The third set was tied at 13 as neither team could pull away in the beginning. Kills from Thompson and sophomore Jayden Young sparked a run for the Lions that gave them the lead, 19-15. The Railsplitters were unable to come back as the Lions took the set, 25-18. 

With the score tied at 6-6 in the fourth set, the Lions' seniors took over. After a kill from Thompson, Lakic recorded consecutive kills. The Lions rocketed to a 12-4 run that gave them an eight point lead, 18-10. The Railsplitters were unable to mount a comeback as the Lions took the set, 25-17, giving them the game in four sets, 3-1. 

The Lions were led by Aleksa Lakic, who recorded 16 kills, 3 aces, and a hitting percentage of .313. Don Thompson followed with 15 kills, 4 blocks, and a hitting percentage of .481. 

Next up, men's volleyball will take on Lee's-McRae College on Friday, February 19. 

For more on Emmanuel College athletics, visit goeclions.com.