CLINTON, S.C.- On a night in which Presbyterian College recognized the battle for breast cancer research in a “Dig For The Cure” match with Winthrop, the Blue Hose fell short of the visiting Eagles by a 18-30, 26-30, 30-25, 23-30 margin. The loss ends a 15-match winning streak for PC, which saw the team set a record for consecutive games won since rally scoring began at 26.
Kelsey McKee led all PC players with 16 kills, while Justine Lanchester and Lauren Mason each added eight. The most important factor of tonight's game, digs, saw four players reach double figures led by Elizabeth Heineman (15). The others included Amanda Davis (12), Ashley Dunlap (11) and 10 by senior Lauren Mason.
Winthrop (8-9) rallied from a game three defeat to by taking advantage of an injury to Mason to jump out to an early 10-7 lead in the fourth game. The Blue Hose would again position themselves with a rally, recording a 7-4 run that tied the game 14-14. Amanda Kettles tallied two kills in the next four points, keeping PC in striking distance at 24-19. Winthrop finished the game strong with six of the next 10 points, including two service aces for the 30-23 victory.
Presbyterian (15-5) emerged from the locker room by opening up game three in familiar fashion. The Blue Hose would lead by as many as five points, in the first 17 PC points. The key run came with Rachel Lewis serving, forcing three straight attack errors, followed by a series of Justine Lanchester serves that provided a 17-10 cushion. Following an Eagles timeout, Winthrop rallied with a 12-5 run that would knot the game at 22-22. A back-and-forth game for the final points, PC gained an advantage with two Davis service aces. Leading 27-24, courtesy a McKee kill, Lewis sent an ace past the Eagles for the 30-25 win.
Falling in a 0-2 deficit for the first time since a loss to Georgia (Aug. 31), the Blue Hose battled Winthrop tough throughout in game two. Jumping out to an early 10-6 lead behind an array of Kettles kills along with that of McKee and Lanchester, the game reached a series of ties including 13-13. Winthrop climbed in front by a margin that fluctuated between two and three points, as the two teams battled, as three McKee kills and two by Lanchester paced PC. Kills by Sara Felts, Kaley Viola and Shannon Sitzmann closed out the game at 30-26.
The Eagles opened the up a two-point advantage on two occasions in game four before PC tied the game at 7-7. The Blue Hose continued to battle strong, narrowing the lead to two points at 13-11, before an Eagles run move the lead to 19-14 on a Kellie Sanders kill. With Winthrop controlling the service game, Kelsey Hall allowed the Eagles to pull in front 24-15. Winthrop closed out the game at 30-18.
1 2 3 4
Winthrop 30 30 25 30
PC 18 26 30 23
Winthrop vs. Presbyterian Post Game Notes
PC-Winthrop Box Score
