Hickory, N.C. ?? The Tusculum College Volleyball Team (5-2, 3-0) handed Lenoir-Rhyne University (5-2, 2-1) a 3-0 setback in a battle for first place in the South Atlantic Conference Saturday afternoon at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.? The Pioneers prevailed by scores of 25-14, 25-19 and 25-20.

Tusculum?s Bailee Price (Fort Wayne, Ind.) led the visitors with 10 kills while Ashley Sarmiento (Dayton, Ohio) and Caitlyn Dean (Fort Wayne, Ind.) added 30 assists and 20 digs, respectively, as the Pioneers remained undefeated in SAC play.

Lenoir-Rhyne junior outside hitter Brooke Christenbury (Statesville, N.C.) and sophomore outside hitter Katelin Wensley (Advance, N.C.) each finished with a team-high six kills despite the setback.?

Sophomore setter Meredith Lutz (Newton, N.C.) added 25 assists in the losing effort as well for the Bears.

Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Newberry, S.C., to face Newberry in a league contest on Friday at 7 p.m.? Meanwhile, Tusculum returns home to host South Atlantic Conference-rival Carson-Newman on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., at Pioneer Arena.