HICKORY, N.C. — The Tusculum women’s volleyball team dropped its first of two meetings on the week to Lenoir-Rhyne with Tuesday’s (Oct. 28) four-set defeat.
The Pioneers (7-12, 5-8 SAC) were downed by the Bears (16-5, 10-3 SAC) by scores of 38-36, 20-25, 10-25, 21-25. Tusculum’s 38 points were the most in a frame dating back to 2008 (when the 25-point set was instituted). The previous high was 36 at King in 2010.
Kayli Cleaver led Lenoir-Rhyne with 18 kills, followed by Emmaleigh Allen, Emmie Modlin, and Addison Vary, all with 11. Sydney Karjala and Alicia Barbarito combined for 47 assists with 25 and 22, respectively. Karjala also landed five service aces, while Hadley Prince finished with a match-high 28 digs. Both Cleaver and Averie Dale were credited with nine total blocks (two solo, seven assists).
Mackenzie Land finished with a career-best 18 kills, ahead of Grace VanZwieten (13) and Karris Oller (11). Rounding out the scoring were Jaida Alvin (4), Adreana Lee (4), Isabella Bianchin (3), Victoria Church (1), and Maggie Kane (1). Church dished out 44 assists, while Land recorded the lone TU ace. Five Pioneers reached double figures in digs: Mia Wave-Nelson (17), Land (15), Mary Katherine Hall (15), Church (14), and Kane (10). At the net, Bianchin registered a career-high seven blocks (three solo, four assists).
Lenoir-Rhyne hit .231 as a team with 62 kills and 23 errors on 169 total attempts. Tusculum hit .098 with 55 kills, 36 errors, and 193 total attacks. The Bears led the Pioneers in assists (58-50), service aces (8-1), digs (92-75), and total blocks (16-11).
Tusculum is home for its next three matches, starting Thursday (Oct. 30) against Coker. First serve for the second half of the home-and-home series is set for 6 p.m.
