September 22, 2009

HARROGATE, Tenn. - The Lincoln Memorial University volleyball team remained among the unbeaten in conference play Tuesday night by knocking off the Lions of Mars Hill College in three sets to improve to 3-0 in league play and 11-2 overall.

The Lady Railsplitters entered Tuesday evening's first match-up of the season with Mars Hill having won their past five consecutive matches, including conference victories last week over Carson-Newman College (3-0) and Newberry College (3-1). The Lions, entered the match with LMU at 7-4 overall and 1-2 in league play after opening conference play with a 3-0 over Tusculum College and falling last week to league opponents Catawba College (3-1) and Wingate University (3-0).

LMU jumped on the Lions early in the first set and never let up as the Lady Railsplitters rolled up a 25-13 win. The second set didn't get any better for Mars Hill as LMU was clicking on all eight and came away with another 25-13 win while the Lions seemed somewhat flat throughout the early and mid stages of the match.

In set-three however, Mars Hill and LMU went toe-to-toe right down to the wire with the Lady Railsplitters pulling a come-from-behind win just as the match looked as though it might go to a fourth set. LMU managed to gain the lead to edge MHC with a 25-23 victory to pick up its third league win in a weeks time.

For the LMU women, senior Amanda Horenkamp (Murfreesboro, TN) paced the offense with 11 kills, while setter reining South Atlantic Conference Specialist of the Week Lauren Kiwacka (Tipp City, OH) handed out 21 assists and freshman setter Brittany Pugh (Farmersburg, IN) dished out 13.

Defensively, the Lady Railsplitters were as strong as they have been all year. Again it was Horenkamp that led by example with 18 digs, while defensive specialist Alicia MacIntyre (Muncie, IN) had 15 and outside hitter and reining South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week Candace Richardson (Houston, TX) contributed 14. The defensive didn't stop there. LMU's Kodi Cartwright (Layton, UT) and Ashley Knight (Palm Harbor, FL) made things tough for the Mar Hill hitters by each recording four block assists each at the net.

For Mars Hill College, Laura Ann Huskey (West Henderson, N.C.) and Traci Teague (Ramseur, N.C.) each turned in six kills to lead the Lions, while Sarah Paquette (Swannanoa, N.C.) and Becca Smith (Candler, N.C.) handed out 14 and 13 digs respectively.

On the defensive side of the net, Kelsi Flora (Mishawaka, Ind.) recorded 15 digs while Huskey turned in 11 in the Lions third consecutive league loss this week.

Mars Hill will travel to Newberry College on Friday night. The match will begin at 7:00 p.m.

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