Box Score Banner Elk, NC – The Emmanuel Men's Volleyball team traveled to Banner Elk, NC tonight to take on Lees McRae in conference play. The Lions got off to a fast start, taking the first two sets, 25-22, 25-13. The Bobcats would rebound to take the next two, 25-23, 25-21, but the Lions would win the fifth and final set, 15-13 to take the match, 3-2. With the win, the Lions improve to 8-14 overall, 3-6 in conference action. 
 
Lees McRae started the first set strong, jumping out to a 6-3 lead, but the Lions would respond with kills by Greg Bodus, Aidan Feeney, and Eli Zdonek to tie things up at 7-7. The two teams would go back and forth the rest of the way until the Lions went on a 3-0 run to close out the set, 25-22.
 
In the second, the Lions continued their momentum through starting out strong, Emmanuel would get out to a 7-4 lead, but the Bobcats would respond to get within one point, 9-8. The Lions would answer with a 7-0 run to take a 18-9 lead. Emmanuel would close out the set on a 9-4 run to win it dominantly, 25-13. 
 
The Bobcats would rebound in the third set, jumping out to a 5-2 lead. The Lions would respond to tie things up at 7-7. Lees McRae would go on a run to extend their lead to five, 19-14, but the Lions would respond to tie things up at 19-19 on an attack error by the Bobcats. The Bobcats, however, would close out the set to win it, 25-23. 
 
The Lions jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fourth set, but the Bobcats would respond to tie things up at 7. Lees McRae would take a 10-9 lead on a kill and would extend their lead to four, 14-10, but the Lions would respond to tie the set at 15 all. The Bobcats would close out the set to win it, 25-21. 
 
In the fifth and final set, the Lions got out to a 7-2 lead. The Bobcats would respond to tie things up at 11-11, but Emmanuel would close out the set strong to win it, 15-13 and take the match, 3-2. 
 
Overall the Lions had 51 kills, 50 assists, 37 digs, and 10 blocks. 
 
Eli Zdonek led the way for the Lions with 22 kills, 1.5 blocks, and an assist. Abdallah Roshdy contributed 43 of the Lions 50 assists, and Arturo Diaz-Dube added 4.5 blocks. Nicklas Eichenberger led the team with 12 digs. 
 
Next up, the Lions will travel to Bristol, NC to take on King University tomorrow at 2PM. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.