CLINTON, S.C.- For the fifth time this season the Presbyterian College volleyball team was extended to five matches, emerging victorious in each of the contests after a 30-24, 27-30, 27-30, 30-25, 15-13 win over Charleston Southern. The win moves PC to 18-11 overall, while in-state rival Charleston Southern falls to 9-18.
The key to the third straight match victory again came from incredible play along the front. Kelsey McKee, who established a new career-high last night, re-established a new career-high with 22 kills to lead the way for PC. Teammates Lauren Mason (18 kills, 15 digs), Heather Swain (14 kills) and Amanda Kettles (10 kills) all registered double-digits. Setter Rachel Lewis joined McKee in notching a new career-high's as she dished out 71 assists. Libero Elizabeth Heineman finished with 26 digs in a back row that included Mason's 15 digs and Ashley Dunlap (14 digs).
In familiar territory with a decisive fifth game, PC battled a 6-2 deficit to pull within one point with Lewis serving. After trading four points between the two, Heather Swain drove a kill past the Buccaneers defense to give Presbyterian a 12-12 tie. Freshman Elizabeth Heineman forced two attack errors by Amanda Hill to put the game at match point. After a kill by Cori Holeman that drew CSU within one point, Kettles followed with the final point of the match to give Presbyterian the 15-13 win.
PC responded in the fourth game of the match, with their backs against the wall, grabbing an early lead. With Lewis serving, kills by McKee and Mason stretched the lead to 11-7. CSU was unwilling to give into the pressure, fighting back to knot the game at 13-13 before taking an eventual two point lead on multiple occasions before a 17-17 tie. From there four ties would put the game at a stalemate, broken by a Mason kill which gave Presbyterian a 25-24 lead. With Lanchester serving the Blue Hose would get two attack errors, a service ace and a McKee kill that solidified the 30-25 match tying win.
A close third game fell the way of Charleston Southern late, as PC was unable to overcome after losing the lead at 11-10. The Blue Hose would stay close behind kills by McKee, Lanchester and Swain to narrow the margin to 22-20 in favor of the Buccaneers. After a back-and-forth series which saw the lead fluctuate between two and three points, a kill by Cori Holeman and a PC attack error opened the door for the 30-27 Buccaneer victory.
Presbyterian carried the momentum into the second game, with key kills by Kettles, Mason and Lanchester that opened up a 9-6 advantage early. With Ashlee Kadatz serving the Buccanneers would force back-to-back attack errors and record consecutive service aces that knotted the game at 13-13. The game would remain back-and-forth including four ties before a 21-21 tie was broken by Renae Popovich's kill. CSU rattled off the next three points, before Kelsey McKee cut the lead back to three on a kill. The Buccaneers would get two kills down the stretch from Nicole Diller along with two PC attack errors to knot the game with a 30-27 victory.
The PC service game continued to open offensive possibilities, as Mason provided a 5-1 lead by forcing three straight attack errors combined with a Swain kill. After a series of ties the Blue Hose emerged with an 18-13 behind consecutive kills by Mason and Lanchester. After kills by McKee and Kettles pushed the lead to a match-high seven points at 27-20. Two kills by Heather Swain and an Amanda Davis service ace put the Blue Hose on the threashold of victory before a series of four straight points by the Buccaneers sliced the lead to five before Swain drove home the final kill and a 30-24 win.
Presbyterian vs. Charleston Southern Post Game Notes
? The fifth game win gives PC five on the season, the first since four consecutive that included wins over Jacksonville, The Citadel, Campbell and UNC Wilmington.
? Kelsey McKee registered her 14th double-digit game of the season
? With 18 kills and 14 digs Lauren Mason has now recorded double-digit kills in 23 games this season.
? PC has now swept the season series against Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina and The Citadel.
? Against Big South Conference competition Presbyterian is 5-6 in 2007.
