Box Score Franklin Springs, GA- The Emmanuel Men's Volleyball team hosted Belmont Abbey College tonight in Conference Carolinas action. The match up was a close one, with each team making plays. The Lions took the first set, 25-20, then Belmont Abbey bounced back to take set two, 25-17. The Crusaders would take set three, 25-22, but the Lions would respond to take set four, 25-18. Set five went back and forth until the very end, when the Crusaders finished strong to win 15-13 to take the match, 3-2. With the loss, the Lions fall to 8-16 on the season, 3-8 in conference. 
 
In set one, the Lions got off to a strong start taking a 10-6 lead early. They would go on a 7-4 run to extend their lead to 17-10 before the Crusaders began to come back. Belmont Abbey would outscore the Lions 10-8 to close out the set, but the Lions would earn the win, 25-20. 
 
The second set started out with multiple ties and lead changes. The Crusaders, however, would take control of the set going on a 6-0 run to take a 17-11 lead. Belmont Abbey would continue on a hot streak, extending their lead to 22-13 and would close out the set to win, 25-17. 
 
The Crusaders took an early lead in the third set, 11-6. The Lions would answer back to get within a point, 20-19 but the Crusaders would close out the set to take it 25-22. 
 
The Crusaders jumped out to an early lead in the fourth set, 4-1 but the Lions would bounce back to tie it at 4-4. After going point-for-point, the Crusaders began to pull away, leading 10-8 but the Lions responded to tie things up at 10 and again at 12. Emmanuel took their first lead of the set at 13-12, The Lions expanded their lead to 18-14 and would close out the set on a 7-4 run to win the set, 25-18. 
 
The Lions started off strong in set five, taking a 8-6 lead, but the Crusaders would go onto tie it up at 8. The two teams would trade points until the Crusaders closed the set out strong, to take the set 15-13, and the game 3-2. 
 
Next up, the Lions will face Tusculum on Thursday at 6PM. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.