Box Score BANNER ELK, N.C. – In a rematch of last week's five-set thriller in the Student Center, the King University women's volleyball team avenged that loss to Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk on Saturday. The Tornado raced out to a 25-20 first set victory before dropping the second set. However, King responded with a 25-19 win in the third set before taking the final set 25-11 to take the 3-1 victory and move back into a tie atop the Conference Carolinas North Division standings.
The Bobcats (14-8, 8-4 CC) scored the first point of the match, but King scored three straight points to gain a lead they wouldn't relinquish in the first set. Lauren Willoughby, Sarah Collins and Summer Kremer all recorded kills on the spurt for the Tornado. King gradually extended their lead, and their largest advantage of the set came at 17-10 before Lees-McRae tried to comeback. The Bobcats got back within 20-16, but the Tornado (15-9, 8-4 CC) responded with back-to-back points, and Kremer ended the 25-20 victory with her sixth kill of the set.
Lees-McRae had an answer however, scoring the first five points of the second set as they raced to the 25-18 win to even the match at one-all.
It looked as though the Bobcats would continue their roll in the third set as they opened up a 13-11 lead in the second set before Grace Underwood reignited the Tornado offense with one of her eight kills. Olivia Underwood served up an ace to even the score before a Kremer kill gave King the lead. King began get a little separation as Willoughby started a 3-0 run that gave the Tornado a 19-15 advantage with a kill. The Bobcats came back to get within 19-18 before King head coach Morris Cephas called what turned out to be a key timeout. Out of the break, Collins, Kremer and Willoughby posted consecutive kills as King went on to take the set 25-19.
The Tornado offense was only heating up however, as the posted a .385 attack percentage in the match-deciding set. King used a 3-0 run to gain an advantage before scoring five straight points to open up a 14-6 advantage in the fourth set. Olivia Underwood then started a 6-0 run that gave King a commanding 20-7 lead with one over her four kills in the match. Grace Underwood and Jordan Baty capped eth 25-11 fourth set win with back-to-back kills as the Tornado took the match 3-1.
Kremer posted her 13th double-double of the season, going for 20 kills and 13 digs to lead the Tornado. Brooke Calhoun, Payton Tipton and Olivia Underwood all tied for the team lead with Kremer, posting 13 digs in the victory. Olivia Underwood also dished out 49 assists for the double-double. Willoughby followed Kremer on the offensive end with 13 kills while Grace Underwood chipped in with eight terminations.
King will be in action again on Wednesday when they travel to play in a triangular at Armstrong State University. The Tornado will first face UNC Pembroke at 5:00 p.m., before facing the 17th-ranked host Pirates at 7:00 p.m.
