WILMINGTON, N.C.- In a stifling Hanover Hall, on the campus of UNC Wilmington, the Presbyterian College volleyball team won its fourth straight match in five-games 30-19, 22-30, 30-19, 28-30 and 15-9. The victory moves the Blue Hose to 4-4 on the season, matching a four-game winning streak in the first eight games of the season that last occurred in 2003.
Blue Hose senior Lauren Mason chimed in with her third consecutive 30 kill performance, adding 15 digs. Justine Lanchester added 19 kills, along with Kelsey McKee's eight to pace the PC. Elizabeth Heineman had a game-high 22 digs for Presbyterian and along with Amanda Davis' 11 digs and Mason three PC players had double-figures in digs.
In what has become a customary game five for Presbyterian the lead was extended to 8-6 before the Blue Hose would score six of the next eight points to close out the 15-9 win. Lanchester drove home the game winning kill on a pass from Rachel Lewis to put PC back at the .500 mark.
Campbell put Presbyterian into familiar territory, facing a decisive game five, after winning the third game by a 30-28 margin. Despite leading by four points on five occasions, and assuming a 13-8 lead early on, PC was unable to pull away from the Camels. The Blue Hose maintained its lead until a 20-20 tie, only the third of the game, when Campbell grabbed a two point lead at 24-22. From there a back-and-forth game, which included three ties, was broken by a Femi Alabi kill that gave the Camels the win. Rachel Lewis was PC's key in the third match, recording a service ace as well as forcing a ball handling error.
Amanda Davis stepped up when her team needed her most, giving PC an early 3-0 lead in the a game three in which they were never challenged. Davis' four service aces over the first 17 points of the game, provided a game-high 11-point advantage, allowing the Blue Hose to cruise by a 30-19 score. Up front the senior Mason paced Presbyterian with nine kills in the game, along with two by Lanchester and one each from McKee and Amanda Kettles.
The Camels fought back from a game one loss to knot the match at one game apiece, following a 30-22 victory. A combined five kills between Mason (three) and McKee (two) kept the opening seven points of the game at a deadlock, before a five point outburst gave Campbell its largest lead through the games first 18 points. PC answered, this time behind three kills by Justine Lanchester, to knot the game for the third time at 18-18. The Blue Hose would get no closer than two points during the latter stages of the match, as timely kiills by the Camels closed out the game.
Allowing the fewest points in a single game this season, in a 30-19 win over the Camels, PC jumped out to an early 3-0 lead behind a strong Davis service game. Campbell answered with a six-point surge to tie the game at 6-6, before extending its lead to a team-high four points at 13-9. The Blue Hose rallied, taking advantage of three Campbell errors, and a McKee kill to knot the game at 16-16. With Mason serving, the team would gain a lead that it would not relinquish, outscoring Campbell 14-3 during the stretch.
PC-Campbell Box Score
Presbyterian vs. Campbell Post Game Notes
- PC established a new season-high for fewest points in a game at 19 (games one, three). The previous mark was 20 points (vs. Providence).
- PC has been extended to a decisive fifth game in each of the last three games, moving to 3-0 on the season in five-game sets.
- Lauren Mason has registered three straight 30 kills in games vs. Campbell, The Citadel and Jacksonville.