Lenoir-Rhyne at Mars Hill - Tuesday, November 9, 7 p.m.
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Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Newberry (Senior Night) - Friday, November 12, 7 p.m.
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In the final week of the regular season, the Lenoir-Rhyne volleyball team is looking to win their first SAC regular season championship since 2006. LR has won seven of their last eight matches and were ranked No. 2 in last week's NCAA Regional Rankings. The Bears can clinch at least a share of the SAC championship with two wins this week over Mars Hill and Newberry regardless of what the other teams in contention do in their final two games this week.
 
Currently there is a log jam at the top of the SAC standings, with four teams - Lenoir-Rhyne, Anderson, Tusculum and Wingate - all holding league records of 13-3. Those four teams have all secured the top 4 spots in the SAC Tournament, so that means LR will host a first round SAC Tournament game on Nov. 16 for the first time since 2004.
 
The Bears have already beaten both Mars Hill and Newberry this year. The Lions came to Shuford Gymnasium back on Sept. 21 and lost to the Bears 3-1. The Bears trailed 12-7 in the second set but were able to squeak out a 25-23 set two win. LR nearly swept Mars Hill, but the Lions were able to win the third set 25-21 to avoid the sweep. The Bears won the 4th set 25-19 to close out the Lions.
 
The Bears had one of their more dramatic matches of the season against Newberry back on Oct. 7. LR dropped the first two sets on the road, then mounted a huge comeback, winning the last three sets to take down the Wolves 3-2.
 
Two of senior Taylor Prall's three best attacking matches in conference play came against this week's opponents. Her 22 kills in the Newberry comeback win are the most she's had in a conference game this year, and her 17 kills against Mars Hill are the third most in a SAC match. The reigning first team All-Conference outside hitter is 4th in the SAC in kills per set (3.41) and 5th in overall kills (314). The Bears are facing two of the biggest offensive threats in the conference this week as well. Mars Hill's Sarah Goddard is second in the SAC in total kills with 346, and Newberry's Natasha Bannister is third with 338.
 
For LR, Rachel Bewick has won the SAC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season. Bewick, who joined the 1,000-dig club this season, is second in the SAC in digs per set (5.72) and second in total digs (526).
 
Emma Clark has also had a great year in her first year in Hickory. The transfer from Georgia State is fifth in the SAC in hitting percentage (.310) and second in blocks per set (1.10).
 
Lenoir-Rhyne has won five out of the last six meetings with Mars Hill, and three out of the last four against Newberry. LR is 7-0 at home this year, and 9-3 on the road.
 
The Newberry match is senior night for five seniors on this year's roster. After the game, Taylor Prall, Madison Asher, Rachel Bewick, Helen Hamilton and Alannah Thomas will be honored for their time wearing the red and black.

Both of this week's matches begin at 7 p.m.