HICKORY, N.C. -- The Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball Team moved on to the SAC Tournament Semifinal with a convincing win over Carson-Newman in the SAC Quarterfinal on Monday. The Bears swept the Eagles for the second time in less than a month to advance to the Semis and will take on top seed Wingate. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Carson-Newman 0
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (21-9), Carson-Newman (14-17)
Location: Shuford Arena
STATS OF THE MATCH:

• The Eagles used a 7-1 run in the first set to take a 15-12 lead. However, the Bears would battle back to even the contest at 18. LR scored four straight and eventually took a 25-23 win in the opener to take the momentum.
• LR would take set two 25-20 and clinched it with a 25-19 win in the third. LR hit .387 in the second frame and held the Eagles to a -.048 percentage in the third.
• The Bears held an 8-4 edge in blocks and a 51-46 lead in digs.
• Aasia McNeill and Emmaleigh Allen each had 13 kills to lead the Bears offense as the duo accounted for 26 of the team's 41 kills. McNeill added six digs and a block while Allen had five digs and three aces. 
• Sydney Karjala returned to the lineup and had a double-double with 17 assists and 14 digs. Lyndsie Warren had 13 digs for the Bears.
• Julia Wheeler, the SAC leader in kills, had a match-high 14. However, no other Eagle had more than five and LR held Wheeler to a .116 hitting percentage. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• LR is in the semifinals for the second time in three years. 
• Carson-Newman drops to 3-11 on the road this season.
• LR is now 17-16 all-time against Carson-Newman at home. 
• This was the first time since 1989 that LR swept Carson-Newman twice in the same season.

UP NEXT: LR will move on to the Semifinal where they take on Wingate at 4:30 p.m. at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center.