BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's volleyball team opened their season on Wednesday night at Lees-McRae College. In what was tight match, the Bobcats used runs late in each set to take the nonconference tilt 3-0 from the Tornado.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae 3, King 0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-23)
LOCATION: Williams Gymnasium; Banner Elk, N.C.
RECORDS: King 0-1; Lees-McRae 1-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- King scored three-of-four points to pull within 7-6 of Lees-McRae following a Katie Harless block early in the opening set.
- However, the Bobcats rolled off five straight points, opening up a 12-6 advantage.
- The Tornado responded with four consecutive points, started by a Julie Ward kill and capped by a Ward ace.
- The King deficit grew to 23-17, but the Tornado ran off three straight points, capped by another Ward ace.
- However, the Tornado couldn't get any closer, falling 25-22.
Second Set
- King jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set following a Kayley Holtzclaw block, but Lees-McRae scored three straight points to even the score.
- The Tornado held the advantage through the early going until three straight Bobcat points gave Lees-McRae a 12-11 lead.
- King responded with a Brittney Ramsey kill that started a 3-0 run. Holzclaw gave King a 14-12 lead with another solo block.
- Holzclaw and Allie Zimmerman later teamed up for a block that put the Tornado ahead 16-13.
- Lees-McRae used a 5-0 run to take a 21-18 advantage, the Tornado clawed back.
- Three consecutive kills from Ramsey, Ward and Georgia Davis knotted the tally at 22.
- However, the Bobcats scored the final three points to take the set 25-22.
Third Set
- Lees-McRae jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the Tornado worked their way back and used a 3-0 spurt to take an 11-10 lead following a block from Holtzclaw and Davis.
- A Ward kill stretched the Tornado lead to 18-14, but the Bobcats again went on a run.
- Lees-McRae scored four consecutive points to even the set before Ward came up with another kill.
- The Bobcats took a 22-19 lead following a 4-0 run, but King answered with three straight points as Holztclaw evened the score with another solo stuff.
- The score was even at 23 when Lees-McRae scored the final two points to take the set 25-23 and the match 3-0.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ward led the Tornado with 12 kills and nine digs.
- Abigale Jayne added seven kills and seven digs.
- Holtzclaw accounted for six blocks, three solo and three assists.
- Abigail Shaffer led the defense with 16 digs.
- Harless handed out 14 assists and added eight digs while Davis dished out 11 assists to go along with five digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Olivia Ney led Lees-McRae with 10 kills while Caitlyn Smirne added eight kills.
- Carlee Allbaugh handed 31 assists and added 14 digs.
- Lauren Xayavong registered 12 digs.
UP NEXT
- King returns to the court on February 13 when they host Barton College at 12:00 p.m.
- Lees-McRae travels to take on Belmont Abbey College on Saturday.
