Harrogate, Tenn. - The Tusculum Volleyball Team (18-11) advanced to the semifinals of the 2011 Food Lion SAC Tournament with a 3-1 win over Lenoir-Rhyne (17-15) Friday afternoon at Mars Gymnasium.? The Pioneers prevailed by scores of 25-23, 18-25, 25-16 and 25-18.

Tusculum will face top-seeded and No. 14 Wingate (28-0) on Saturday in the round of four beginning at 1:30 p.m.

The Pioneers were led by Sam Underwood (Muncie, Ind.) with 13 kills and 11 digs while Kassie Voelker (Morristown, Tenn.) and Bailee Price (Fort Wayne, Ind.) added 11 kills each as Tusculum defeated L-R for the third time this season.

Ashley Sarmiento (Dayton, Ohio) dished out 46 assists and tallied 13 digs for a double-double as well for the Pioneers.

Senior middle blocker Chelsea Hill (Lexington, N.C.) led the Bears with 11 kills while sophomore setter Kaitlyn Burton (Mills River, N.C.) added 16 assists and 10 digs in the loss.

Junior setter Meredith Lutz (Newton, N.C.) finished with 19 assists and eight digs as well?for the Bears, who suffered?their fifth straight loss.

Lenoir-Rhyne, the eighth-ranked squad in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Poll this week, will await to see if?it earns a berth to the national tournament.