GREENEVILLE, TN - Lenoir-Rhyne volleyball dropped their first SAC match of the year on Saturday, falling 3-1 on the road at Tusculum.
The Bears couldn't get a rhythm going, hitting just .151 in the match, the team's second lowest mark of the year.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Tusculum 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 1 (25-18, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23)
Records: Tusculum (5-3, 2-2 SAC), Lenoir-Rhyne (4-3, 2-1 SAC)
Location: Greeneville, Tenn. | Pioneer Arena
STORY OF THE MATCH:
- Lenoir-Rhyne was down 17-16 in the first set before Tusculum went on a 6-0 run to pull away.
- The Bears started out well in set two, going up 5-2 off a kill from Rachael Chambers.
- Tusculum turned a 6-4 deficit into an 11-6 lead thanks to a 7-0 run.
- The home side held the Bears at bay, winning the second set 25-17.
- Seven Bears picked up a kill in a 25-21 third set victory.
- The Pioneers led 21-16 in that final set before the Bears went on a run to cut it to one.
- A kill from Tusculum and Lenoir-Rhyne service error gave the Pioneers the win.
STATS OF THE MATCH:
- Addison Vary led the Bears with a career high 16 kills, followed by Emmaleigh Allen with 12 and Averie Dale with 11.
- Alicia Barbarito was tops with 27 assists while Avery Meide led with 19 digs.
- The Bears hit just .151 in the match, compared to .195 from Tusculum.
- Lenoir-Rhyne had just six total blocks in the match, their second lowest mark of the year.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Tusculum leads the all-time series 36-28. This win breaks a four-game win streak for the Bears over the Pioneers.
- Emmaleigh Allen leads the Bears with 88 kills on the year.
UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne will host Catawba on Tuesday for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night. The Catawba Indians are 6-1 (2-1 SAC) and most recently defeated Tusculum 3-2 lat night. First serve on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. from Hickory.
