Blue Hose Continue Winning Ways with a Five-Game Victory over Carson-Newman
CLINTON, S.C. – Four Blue Hose players with double-digit kills led the Presbyterian College volleyball team to their first South Atlantic Conference victory of the season as the Blue Hose defeated the visiting Eagles of Carson-Newman College, 3-2 (30-18, 24-30, 30-25, 27-30, 15-12) Friday night in Templeton Gym.
Senior Danielle Gill (Kings Mountain, N.C.) nailed seven of PC’s 14 kills in the fifth and deciding game en route to a 15-12 Blue Hose win. The fifth game featured eight tie scores and three lead changes. With the game knotted at 9-9 on a kill by Gill, Presbyterian pulled away from Carson-Newman behind four kills from Gill. As a team, PC hit .636 (14-0-22) in game five.
In the first game, the Blue Hose jumped out to a 6-0 lead as PC capitalized on three Eagle errors. Presbyterian never relinquished its advantage and won the first game handily by a score of 30-18.
Carson-Newman came back to square up the match at 1-1 as the Eagles captured the second game, 30-24 behind five team blocks. Carson-Newman took the lead for good at 12-11 on a kill by sophomore Kelsey Fleck (Celina, Ohio).
The Blue Hose went up 2-1 in the match with a 30-25 win in the third game. After PC posted a 12-4 margin, the Eagles tied it up at 19-19 on a kill by sophomore Vanessa Kinsler (Gray, Tenn.). Presbyterian regained the lead at 20-19 and used an 11-6 to close out the game.
A fifth and deciding game was forced by a 30-27 Carson-Newman victory in game four. Junior Kelli Sorensen (Maple Grove, Minn.) led the Eagles to the game four win with five kills.
The Presbyterian offense was led by junior Lauren Mason (Peachtree City, Ga.) who notched a game-high 21 kills and 14 digs for her 10th double-double of the year. Gill finished with another strong night as she added 18 kills and 13 digs, while freshman Julie Hollrah (Glenwood, Md.) chipped in 12 kills and 13 digs. Junior Courtney VanDusen (Peoria, Ill.) was also in double figures with 11 kills. Sophomore Rachel Lewis (Bloomington, Ill.) handed out 60 assists and 13 digs and junior Jodi Palmer (Plain City, Ohio) digged 22 kill attempts.
Sorensen ended the match with 15 kills and 10 digs to pace the Eagles, while senior Melissa Miller (Springfield, Ohio) had 14 kills. Senior Kari Gibson (Celina, Ohio) dished out 41 assists and contributed 11 kills. Fleck finished with 10 kills and sophomore Salem Stepp (Morristown, Tenn.) tallied 19 digs.
Presbyterian looks to extend its win streak to three matches as the Blue Hose entertain Tusculum College tomorrow at 1 p.m. Carson-Newman will travel to Newberry College on Saturday for a 10 a.m. SAC match.