Young Harris, GA – The Emmanuel Women's Volleyball team closed out conference play tonight with a matchup at Young Harris. The Lions took the first set, 25-19 before the Mountain Lions tied the game, winning the 2^nd set, 25-23.  The Lions responded well to take the final two sets, 25-19, 25-18 to earn the win, 3-1! With the win, the Lions extend their win streak to an impressive 17 matches to improve to 24-6 on the season, 18-2 in conference action.

The teams traded points and the lead early in the 1^st set, with Natalie Wilson and Cailin Pritchard getting involved early. Midway through the set, the Lions took a 15-14 lead on an attack error by the Mountain Lions. Kills by Ellie Jackson, Jada Porter, and Wilson pushed the Lions lead to 21-17, with an ace by Marusa Pesut giving the Lions a 5-point lead. The Lions closed the set strong to earn the win, 25-18.

The Lions opened up the 2^nd set on a run, taking the early lead, 10-4 on kills by Jackson and Porter. Late in the set, the Mountain Lions tied things up at 20-20 and the teams traded points the rest of the way, with Young Harris scoring the final three points to earn the win, 25-22.

The Lions responded well in set 3, jumping out to a 6-2 lead on kills by Jackson and Pritchard. Young Harris answered to tie the set at 11, but kills by Jackson pushed the Lions ahead, 15-12 midway through the set. Brooke Lee, Brianna Bigelow, Pritchard and Wilson closed the set strong for the Lions to give Emmanuel the set win, 25-19.

In the fourth set, the teams traded points and the lead until kills by Pritchard and Jackson made it 10-7, Emmanuel. A service ace by Madelyn Banton and kills by Jackson, Bigelow and Lee put the Lion up 18-11 late in the set. Young Harris made a run late, but the Lions held off the Mountain Lions to earn the set four win, 25-18 and take the game, 3-1. 

Overall, the Lions had 58 kills, 55 assists, 6 aces, 9 blocks and 90 digs. 

Ellie Jackson led the way with a double-double of 19 kills, 15 digs. Marusa Pesut had 3.5 blocks on the night and dished out 50 assists. Madelyn Banton was strong from the service line with 3 aces, while three Lions ended the night with double digit digs with Lilli Redifer leading the way with 22. 

With the win, the Lions secure the Southwest Division Title!

Next up, the Lions will host Georgia College & State University on Thursday at 6PM. 

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