FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga - Men's volleyball took on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Saturday afternoon. The senior day game honored Don Thompson, Aleksa Lakic, and Mateus Bade. The Crusaders captured the victory in four sets, 3-1, moving the Lion's record to 6-11 overall and 4-7 in Conference Carolinas. 

The first set began with a pair of kills from sophomore Jayden Young and a kill from Don Thompson that led to an early 4-0 lead for the lions. The Crusaders battled their way back in the set, eventually tying it at 12 points a piece. The momentum went back and forth until the Abbey led by two, 22-20. A kill from Aleksa Lakic got the Lions to 21, but three straight points from Belmont Abbey gave them the first set, 25-21. 

The second set began with a slew of lead changes until the Lions led by one, 11-10. Kills from Aleksa Lakic and sophomore Harrison Coelho propelled the Lions to a five point lead, 15-10. The Crusaders proceeded to answer with three consecutive points that kept them in the set. However, a kill and an ace for Aleksa Lakic was followed with two kills from Don Thompson as the Lions took the second set, 25-22. 

The Crusaders opened the third set with five straight points. The Lions battled to stay in the set, eventually able to pull within one, 18-17. However, three consecutive points for Belmont Abbey gave them a four point lead that Emmanuel couldn't recover from. The Crusaders ended up taking the set by five points, 25-20. 

The Crusaders rode their momentum into the fourth set, where they took the early lead, 7-2. The Lions managed to get within one, 10-9. But four consecutive points for the Abbey gave them a five point lead once again. The Crusaders continued to control the set, eventually winning it by six, 25-19. 

The Lions were led by Don Thompson, who recorded 20 kills, 10 digs, and a hitting percentage of .326. Aleksa Lakic followed with 14 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks, and a hitting percentage of .171. Sophomore Henrik Westhoff recorded 37 assists, 4 digs, and 4 kills. 

Next up, men's volleyball will take on the King University Tornado on Friday, March 30. 

How to Follow

Stay tuned to goeclions.com, as well as Lions social media platforms - @ATHLETICSatEC on Twitter, @EmmanuelAthletics on Facebook and @emmanuelathletics on Instagram, for complete coverage of everything Lions.