FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – The Emmanuel Women's Volleyball team closed out the Lions Den Invitational with a non-conference matchup against the Mars Hill Lions. The game was competitive from the start, with the Emmanuel Lions taking set one narrowly, 25-22. Mars Hill answered back to take the second, 25-20 but Emmanuel roared back to take set three, 25-12. Mars Hill responded well to close out the game strong, winning the final two sets 25-18, 15-13 to earn the 3-2 win. With the loss, Emmanuel falls to 2-1 on the early season.
In set one, Emmanuel jumped out to an early 6-2 lead on kills by
Jada Porter and
Cailin Pritchard and an ace by Lili Redifer. Kills from Pritchard,
Morgan Broome and
Ellie Jackson pushed the Lions lead to 17-11 midway through the set, but Mars Hill responded to close the gap late, cutting Emmanuel's lead to 22-20. With the Lion up by a point late, a kill from Jackson put the set away, giving the Emmanuel Lions the set one win, 25-22.
Set two saw the Mars Hill Lions respond well. Emmanuel jumped out to an 8-4 lead on kills by Jackson and
Riley Ferrell but Mars Hill took their first lead of the set at 12-11 and continued on a 3-0 run to go up 14-11. Errors by Emmanuel pushed the Mars Hill lead to 19-14 late, and the Lions closed the set strong to earn the set two win, 25-20.
Emmanuel answered in set three, jumping out to an 11-5 lead on kills by
Brooke Lee and Jackson. Attack errors by Mars Hill and points from
Natalie Wilson and
Brianna Bigelow pushed the Emmanuel lead to 18-8 late in the set.
Isabel Miller had a strong set at the service line, with two aces late to make it 22-12 Emmanuel and kills from Pritchard, Redifer, and
Marusa Pesut gave the Lions the set, 25-12.
Mars Hill rallied in set four, taking an early 7-5 lead. The teams traded points, but a 4-0 run by Mars Hill pushed their lead to 12-7. Kills from Pritchard got the Lions within a point of the lead, 14-13 but Mars Hill closed the set on a 6-1 run to earn the set four win, 25-18.
Set five went down to the wire, with both teams making key plays. Mars Hill jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but kills by Jackson, Wilson and Lee pushed the Lions ahead, 7-6. Mars Hill answered with a 3-0 run to go up 9-7. An attack error by Mars Hill tied the set late at 11-11, and the teams' traded points until late when Mars Hill scored the final two points to earn the set five win, 15-13 and take the game, 3-2.
Overall, the Lions had 72 kills, 6 aces, 5 blocks, 69 assists, and 95 digs.
Ellie Jackson led the Lions with a double-double of 21 kills, 19 digs and 2 blocks.
Cailin Pritchard picked up 18 kills, 2 blocks.
Marusa Pesut led the Lions with a career high 61 assists, while
Isabel Miller picked up a career high 31 digs and 4 aces.
Next, the Lions will head to the Aloha State for four games against top-tier competition.
For more information on Emmanuel Athletics, visit goeulions.com.
