EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Volleyball Team put up a valiant fight (6-11, 2-7 SAC), but came up just short to Lenoir-Rhyne University (15-5, 9-1 SAC) in five sets on Friday night. The Bears earned the victory by scores of 25-14, 25-17, 20-25, 22-25 and 15-12.
The Basics
RESULTS – Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Emory & Henry 2 (25-14, 25-17, 20-25, 22-25, 15-12)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – John Rutledge King Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (6-11, 2-7 SAC); Lenoir-Rhyne (15-5, 9-1 SAC)
How It Happened
- The Bears came out roaring as they ran out to an early 13-3 lead with all three Emory points coming on LR errors. LR continued to push the pace throughout the opening set, maintaining a ten-point advantage en route to a 25-14 win.
- LR started the second stanza the same way they ended the first as they won five of the first six points and held a 15-8 lead at the midpoint of the set. The Bears would not be denied in the second set as they led wire-to-wire and jumped ahead two sets to none by a 25-17 margin.
- The Wasps bounced back in the third set as they rallied from an early deficit to hold a 15-12 lead midway through the frame. E&H was locked in for the third stanza as the Wasps posted a hitting percentage of .455 and took the set 25-20.
- E&H kept its hot streak going to begin the fourth set as the Wasps pushed their advantage out to 14-10 and forced a LR timeout to try and stop the E&H momentum. The Wasps held a 16-13 lead, but the Bears responded by winning seven of the next eight points to jump back in front. The Wasps would not go away and won seven of the following nine to reach set point. Sophomore middle Gracyn Miller (Lilburn, Ga.) and sophomore setter Payton Rolfsen (Fort Wayne, Ind.) combined for a big block to clinch the win 25-22 and force a deciding fifth set.
- LR got out to a commanding 9-2 lead in the fifth, but the Wasps stormed back to trim the deficit to just two at 13-11. The Bears would settle in and win two of the final three points to escape Emory with the win 15-12.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Sophomore middle Julissa Hopgood (Lutz, Fla.) had a monster night offensively for the Wasps as she posted a career-high 18 kills, six digs and a pair of blocks. Miller finished the night with nine kills, seven blocks, a pair of digs and a service ace. Freshman outside hitter Grace Duey (Tega Cay, S.C.) recorded nine kills, five blocks and an assist.
- Rolfsen had her fifth double-double of the season with a team-high 37 assists, 12 digs, eight blocks, four kills and a service ace. Senior libero Libby Bickelhaupt (Fort Myers, Fla.) contributed a double-double of her own with a match-high 30 digs and ten assists.
Lenoir-Rhyne Individual Leaders
- Kathy Peter led the Bears with 19 kills, six digs and three blocks while Emmaleigh Allen posted 14 kills, 13 digs, two service aces, one block and an assist. Aasia McNeil recorded 14 kills, 12 digs, one block and a service ace.
- Sydney Karjala had a match-high 51 assists, 14 digs, one block and a service ace. Cheyenne Clonch posted 11 kills, three blocks and a dig.
Up Next
- E&H hosts its annual Dig Pink game on Tuesday, October 17 against the Cobras of Coker University. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. from the John Rutledge King Center.
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