MARS HILL, N.C. — The Tusculum University women’s volleyball team saw its winning streak snapped at Mars Hill on Tuesday (Nov. 12) night. This marks six of the last seven matches between the foes going to a decisive fifth set, dating back to the 2021 season.
The Pioneers (12-13, 10-7 SAC) fell to the Lions (14-9, 11-5 SAC) by scores of 28-26, 18-25, 25-17, 23-25, 10-15.
Katilyn Grant had 19 kills on a .389 hitting percentage to lead Mars Hill, adding six blocks to the effort. Mackenzie Schmucker (27) and Alyssa Kornegay (25) combined for 52 assists, while Laela Jimenez tallied four service aces and 37 digs.
Martina Foster and McKayla Willey registered 14 kills each for Tusculum, followed by 12 from Addison McLarty. Whitney Thompson (8), Karris Oller (4), Madison Adkins (2), and Olivia Crowl (1) combined for the remaining kills. Adkins dished out 49 assists, while four Pioneers landed a pair of aces: Foster, Sofia De Los Mozos, Amiranee Au, and Macey Snapp. Adkins was also credited with a career-best 24 digs, ahead of Au (21), Snapp (16), and De Los Mozos (13). At the net, both Foster and McLarty accounted for three total blocks.
Mars Hill hit .127 as a team with 61 kills and 33 errors on 221 total attempts. Tusculum hit .129 with 55 kills, 27 errors, and 217 total attacks. The Lions led the Pioneers in assists (58-53), service aces (9-8), and digs (117-108), while the teams tied with eight blocks apiece.
Tusculum wraps up the regular season on Friday (Nov. 15) against Lenoir-Rhyne at 7 p.m. After the match, the Pioneers will honor nine players for their Senior Night: Madison Adkins, Amiranee Au, Maddie Creswell, Olivia Crowl, Jamianne Foster, Katherine Perrin, Taylor Sanders, Whitney Thompson, and McKayla Willey.
