BANNER ELK, N.C. – The King University women's volleyball team got off to a good start on Tuesday night at rival Lees-McRae College, winning the first set. However, the Bobcats used late runs to close out the second and fourth sets and take the match 3-1.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae 3, King 1 (22-25, 26-24, 25-14, 27-25)
LOCATION: Williams Gymnasium; Banner Elk, N.C.
RECORDS: King 6-10, 3-4 Conference Carolinas; Lees-McRae 10-6, 7-2 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- The Tornado posted 12 kills and added four aces in the opening set as Hailee Blankenship led the way with three kills and three aces.
- Riley Nelson and Gracia Love added three kills apiece.
- The Tornado grabbed an early 7-4 lead following a Blankenship kill and Kylie Love ace, however, the Bobcats came back with three straight points to even the score.
- The teams then traded points before Lees-McRae took a 17-14 lead.
- Blankenship then served up three straight aces on a 5-0 run that vaulted the Tornado to a 19-17 lead.
- King held the advantage before a Kara Miller kill gave King the set 25-22.
Second Set
- Lees-McRae got off to a hot start to take a 5-2 lead in the early going before the Tornado came back and looked to gain control of the set with a 7-1 run.
- Abigale Jayne and Nelson teamed up a for a pair of blocks on the run, including the point that gave King an 11-7 lead.
- King withstood a Lees-McRae run and responded with a 4-1 run to take a 17-14 lead, but the Bobcats came back again.
- Lees-McRae scored four straight points to take a 23-22 lead, but back-to-back King points gave the Tornado a chance at set point.
- However, the Bobcats staved off that point, and added two more to take the set 26-24 with the 3-0 run.
Third Set
- The Bobcat run continued to start the set as they raced out to a 7-3 lead and held a 14-7 advantage before the Tornado called for a timeout.
- The offense continued to click for Lees-McRae in the set as they hit .375 to win the set 25-14 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Fourth Set
- The roll continued for the Bobcats to start the set, scoring the first five points.
- King worked their way back and used a 5-0 spurt to even the tally at six. The run was highlighted by a block from Blankenship and Nelson followed by a Nelson kill and Chloe Clayton ace.
- The Tornado took a 10-8 lead following a Blankenship ace and block from Nelson and G. Love.
- Following a 3-0 spurt that gave Lees-McRae the lead, the teams traded points.
- King broke a 17-17 tie with three straight points, capped by a kill and block from Clayton before the Bobcats came back.
- Lees-McRae took a 23-22 lead before a Nelson kill evened the score.
- Following a Bobcat point, consecutive kills from Blankenship and G. Love gave King a 25-24 lead.
- However, Lees-McRae scored the final three points of the set to take the frame 27-25 and the match 3-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Blankenship led the Tornado with 11 kills and 10 digs. She added five service aces.
- G. Love and Nelson added eight kills each while Nelson added five blocks.
- Harless handed out 24 assists while Gabri Puertas posted a team-high 17 digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Destiny Holley led Lees-McRae with 25 kills and she was followed by Sydney Stigler's 13 kills and nine digs.
- Madison Goins handed out 48 assists and Lauren Xayavong led the way with 22 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- King posted 11 aces, their eighth time this season reaching double figures, including two of the last three matches.
UP NEXT
- King stays on the road to face North Greenville University on Friday night. First serve from Tigerville, S.C. is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
- Lees-McRae travels to Erskine College on Saturday.
