BANNER ELK, NC – The Emmanuel Women's Volleyball team traveled to Banner Elk, NC tonight to face the Lees McRae College Bobcats. The Lions jumped out to an early lead, taking the first set 25-18. Emmanuel carried their momentum into set two, earning a 25-23 victory. The Bobcats rebounded in the third set, winning 25-17 but the Lions closed out the game with a win in set four, 25-18. With the win, the Lions move to 17-8 on the season, 14-4 in conference play.

The two teams traded points and the lead early in the first set. The Lions pulled ahead, 9-6 on a kill by Faith Kelly and service ace by Marusa Pesut, but the Bobcats quickly tied the set back up at 9-9. Tied at 15-15, the Lions closed out the set strong on kills by Kelly and Ellie Jackson, along with another ace by Pesut to give the Lions the set, 25-18. 

The second set saw the Lions jump out to a 6-2 lead on kills by Jackson, Kelly, Cailin Pritchard and Brooke Lee. A ball handling error by the Bobcats pushed the Lions lead to 10-4, but the Bobcats rallied to cut the Lions lead to 17-16 midway through the set. The two teams kept the set close, with the Bobcats tying things at 21-21 on a kill but the Lions closed out the set on a kill by Jackson to take it, 25-23. 

Lees McRae responded well in the third set, taking an early 7-3 lead. The Bobcats pushed their lead to 15-8 midway through the set, but the Lions cut their lead to 17-13 on an ace by Jackson. The Bobcats pulled back ahead late, 22-15 late, taking the set 25-17. 

The fourth set saw the Lions jump ahead 6-3 on service aces by Isabel Miller. The Bobcats quickly tied things at 7-7, taking the lead 10-9. The Lions responded well, retaking the lead on the next point and pushing it to 17-13 on an ace by Asia Queen. Kills by Isabella Reyes put the Lions up 20-14 and although the Bobcats cut their lead to 21-18, the Lions finished off the set on kills by Jackson and Kelly to take the set, 25-19 and the game, 3-1. 

Overall, the Lions had 56 kills, 50 assists, 8 aces, 84 digs and 4 blocks.

Ellie Jackson had another double-double with 19 kills and 20 digs. Marusa Pesut contributed 42 assists on the night, while Asia Queen had 21 digs. Pesut, Queen and Isabell Miller each added two service aces, with Faith Kelly, Cailin Pritchard, Brianna Bigelow and Jackson and grabbing a block a piece.

Next up, the Lions will travel to Bristol, TN to take on the King University Tornado tomorrow at 2PM. 

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.