MARS HILL, NC – The Emmanuel Women's Volleyball team took the show on the road today to face Mars Hill University in a regional matchup. The first set was competitive, with the Lions needing extra points to earn the 27-25 set one victory. Emmanuel carried that momentum into set two, earning a 25-20 win and capped off the game with a 25-18 victory in set three to earn the sweep, 3-0. With the win, the Lions move to 2-3 on the early season. 

The Mars Hill Lions took the early 7-3 lead in the first set, but Emmanuel responded well chipping away at their lead. Midway through the set, the Emmanuel Lions went on a 4-0 run made up of kills by Ellie Jackson and Skye Graham to tie the set at 18-18. The two teams traded points and the lead the rest of the way until Emmanuel finished strong with kills by Faith Kelly and Graham giving the Lions a 27-25 set one victory. 

The second set saw Emmanuel take an early 5-0 lead on service aces by Isabel Miller and a kill by Marusa Pesut. Mars Hill took the lead midway through the set, but Emmanuel rallied to retake the lead on an ace by Miller. The set stayed competitive the rest of the way, but a 4-0 run by Emmanuel made up of kills by Kelly, Jackson, and Brianna Bigelow pushed the Lions lead to 22-17. Mars Hill pulled within two points of the lead late, but Emmanuel would score the final three points on a kill by Graham and an ace by Jackson to give the Lions a 25-20 win in set two. 

Mars Hill jumped ahead early, 4-2 in the third set but Emmanuel responded well to take the lead, 9-7 on a kill by Jackson and ace by Pesut. The two teams traded points until midway through the set when Mars Hill took the lead on a 5-0 run, 15-14. Emmanuel responded quickly with a 4-0 run of their own to retake the lead, 18-15. Emmanuel closed out the set strong, with four kills and an ace to earn the set win, 25-18 and the sweep, 3-0. 

Overall, the Lions had 45 kills, 7 aces, 5 blocks, 44 assists, and 85 digs. 

Ellie Jackson led the way with 16 kills, 18 digs, an ace and a block while Asia Queen tied her career high with 30 digs. Isabel Miller led the team in aces with 3, while Marusa Pesut added 38 assists. Natalie Wilson had 3 blocks on the night, with Skye Graham adding 2. 

The Lions will be back in action on Tuesday at 6PM as they open conference play against Young Harris in the first installment of The Roar War – The Battle For the Lions Cup. 

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