BANNER ELK, NC – The Emmanuel Women's Volleyball team traveled to Banner Elk, NC to face Lees McRae College in conference action. The Lions took the first set, 25-19 and carried their momentum into the final two sets to win the final two sets, 25-17, 25-23 and earn the sweep, 3-0. With the win, the Lions improve to 10-6, 6-2 on the season.
The Lions took an early 6-3 lead in the first set on kills by
Jada Porter,
Natalie Wilson, and a service ace by
Ellie Jackson. The Bobcats cut the Lions lead to 9-8, but attack errors by Lees McRae pushed the Lions lead to 12-8. Late in the set, a 4-0 run from the Lions gave Emmanuel a 22-16 lead. The Bobcats would cut the lead to 23-19, but a kill from Jackson gave the Lions the first set, 25-19.
In the second set, Lees McRae jumped out to a 7-3 lead. The Lions responded well with kills by
Cailin Pritchard and Jackson take the lead, 11-9. The Bobcats would knot the set at 12-12 but attack errors by Lees McRae and a 5-0 run from Emmanuel gave the Lions a 20-13 lead. Kills by Jackson closed the set strong, giving the Lions the win, 25-17,
The third set was a competitive one. The teams traded points and the lead early on, with the Bobcats pulling ahead, 12-8. Kills by
Brooke Lee and Jackson, along with an ace by
Madelyn Banton gave the Lions the 17-16 lead, but a 3-0 run from Lees McRae made it 19-17, Bobcats. The Lions responded with a 6-0 run made up of kills by
Brianna Bigelow and Wilson to make it 23-19, Lions. Lees McRae would answer back to cut the Lions lead to 24-23, but a bad set would give the Lions the set three win, 25-23 and the sweep 3-0.
Overall, the Lions had 40 kills, 7 aces, 12 blocks, 36 assists, and 39 digs.
Ellie Jackson and
Cailin Pritchard picked up 10 kills each, while
Madelyn Banton led the Lions with 3 aces.
Brianna Bigelow picked up 6 blocks, with
Marusa Pesut adding 33 assists. Jackson led the Lions with 13 digs, while
Isabel Miller added 11.
Next up, the Lions will host Erskine on Tuesday at 7PM.
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.
