Bristol, Tenn. – The Tornado hosted Lees-McRae College on Wednesday evening in a Conference Carolinas matchup but was unable to slow the Bobcats' efficient offense, falling 3–0 (25–23, 25–17, 25–21). Lees-McRae controlled key moments throughout the match, using a balanced attack and timely runs to secure the sweep.
First Set: King Pushes Early, Bobcats Finish Late
Lees-McRae and King battled closely throughout the opening frame.
- The Tornado matched the Bobcats point-for-point, keeping the set tight.
- Lees-McRae capitalized late to edge out a 25–23 win.
Second Set: Bobcats Create Separation
Lees-McRae gained momentum and began to control the tempo.
- The Bobcats used a key run to build a comfortable lead midway through the set.
- King continued to compete but dropped the set 25–17.
Third Set: Competitive Finish, Lees-McRae Completes Sweep
King regrouped and delivered another strong effort in the final set.
- Dalton Claiborne led King with a team-high 10 kills on an efficient .600 hitting percentage.
- Lees-McRae pulled away late to secure the 25–21 win and complete the sweep.
Lees-McRae Offensive Efficiency Leads the Way
| Player |
Stat Line |
| Ben Fincham |
12 kills, .455 hitting, 12 points |
| Davide Nicolini |
10 kills, 14 points |
| Abdirahman Ahmed |
32 assists, 1 ace |
| Luke Fincham |
4 aces |
Lees-McRae's balanced attack and strong serving pressure proved to be the difference throughout the match.
King Statistical Leaders
King totaled 34 kills on the match and showed defensive effort across the lineup but struggled to maintain consistency against Lees-McRae's offensive system.
Up Next
The Tornado will continue their road stretch on Friday, April 10, at 7 pm, traveling to face Catawba College in a non-conference matchup.
