BANNER ELK, NC - The men's volleyball team took on the Lees-McRae Bobcats on Saturday afternoon. The Lions defeated the Bobcats in 5 sets, 3-2. The victory moves the Lions' record to 7-12 overall and 5-8 in conference play. 

The first set began with the Bobcats taking control as they gained a five point lead, 11-6. Lees-McRae continued to hold the momentum until the score was 20-14. A 6-1 run from the Lions kept their hopes of winning the set alive as they got within one, 21-20. However, with the score 24-23, a kill from the Bobcats gave them the first set, 25-23. 

The second set began with three straight points from the Lions. The early momentum for Emmanuel propelled them to a six point lead, 10-4. With the score at 14-10, a 5-1 run gave the Lions their largest lead of the set, 19-11. The run included an ace and a kill from freshman Carlos Guerrero, two kills from sophomore setter Henrik Westhoff, and a kill from senior Don Thompson. The Bobcats proceeded to score five straight, but their effort came up short as the Lions took the second set, 25-19. 

The Bobcats rebounded early in the third set, taking a 7-3 lead. The Lions rallied to tie the score at 10 points. With the Bobcats leading 18-16, the Lions scored four straight points as Guerrero and Westhoff each recorded a kill and Thompson had a service ace. With the score tied at 21, a kill from the Bobcats gave them a one point advantage. Thompson responded with a kill, but it wasn't enough as 3 more points for the Bobcats gave them the set, 25-23. 

The Lions took the lead early in the fourth set, 10-5. The scoring proceeded to seesaw back and forth until the Lions still held a five point lead late, 20-15. The Bobcats fought their way back to just a two point defecit, 21-19. However, a kill from sophomore Jayden Young was followed by an error from the Bobcats and a kill from senior Aleksa Lakic, getting the Lions to set point.  Guerrero finished off the run with a kill that gave the Lions the fourth set, 25-19. 

The Lions led 4-2 to begin the fifth and final set. The Bobcats scored two in a row to tie the score at four points. Back to back kills for Guerrero led to a three point lead for the Lions, 11-8. A kill from Thompson got Emmanuel within three of taking the game, but two consecutive points kept the Bobcats' hopes alive as they narrowed the deficit to one point. A kill for Lakic got the Lions to set point, but the Bobcats responded to extend the set. A kill from Thompson once again gave Emmanuel the advantage, but Lees-McRae once again responded to tie the set at 15. An error from the Bulldogs put the game in the hands of Thompson, who was up to serve. The senior stepped up with the game on the line and finished off the Bobcats with an ace that gave the Lions the set, 17-15, and the game, 3-2. 

The Lions were led by Don Thompson, who recorded a double-double with 19 kills, 10 digs, 4 blocks, and 2 service aces. Aleksa Lakic finished with 17 kills, 7 digs, and an ace. Carlos Guerrero had a career high 13 kills and a career high hitting percentage of .632, along with 4 blocks and an ace. 

Setter Henrik Westhoff recorded a double-double with 55 assists and 12 digs. Westhoff also had a career high of 8 kills and a hitting percentage of .571 to go along with 4 blocks and an ace. 

Next up, men's volleyball will host Limestone University on Tuesday, March 30 at 7:00pm. 

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