Posted: Sep 29, 2009
Lincoln Memorial (12-2, 4-0 SAC) played solid defense in the match, amassing 92 digs as a team. The Pioneers (9-8, 2-4 SAC) also played well on defense, totaling 86 digs as a squad.
Four players recorded a double-double for the Pioneers, led by Sam Underwood with 15 kills and 14 digs. Bailee Price also notched a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs, while Gina Coffaro chipped in 10 kills and a career- and match-high 28 digs. Peyton Colclough paced the Pioneers with 44 assists and also contributed defensively with 11 digs. Underwood also led the Pioneers with three service aces, while Coffaro and Alyssa Raterman each recorded 2.5 blocks in the match.
Lincoln Memorial notched three double-doubles in the match, led by Amanda Horenkamp's 16 kills and 25 digs. Lauren Kiwacka chipped in with 25 assists and 14 digs while Brittany Pugh tallied 20 assists and 17 digs in the match. Candace Richardson added 15 kills and Alicia McIntyre recorded 18 digs to contribute to the team effort.
The first set remained close throughout, with neither team pulling away by more than four points in a frame that included nine ties. Tusculum opened the set with a 5-2 run before Lincoln Memorial closed the gap and took a 9-8 lead on a service ace by Pugh. The Railsplitters would open their largest lead of the set at 22-18 on a Horenkamp kill, and after TC rallied to pull even at 23-23, Lincoln Memorial closed out the first-set win with a pair of kills by Kodi Cartwright and Richardson.
Set number two was even more tightly contested with 11 ties and six lead changes, as the Railsplitters took the frame by a score of 30-28 to take a 2-0 advantage in the match. After Lincoln Memorial opened an early 6-3 lead, the Pioneers stormed back with a 7-2 run to take a 10-8 lead in the set. The Railsplitters would not let the Pioneers pull ahead by more than two points over the next several rallies, eventually pulling even with TC at 15-15.
Tusculum then launched an 8-4 run to take a 23-19 lead in the set and pull within two points of winning the frame. Lincoln Memorial would rally to take a 25-24 advantage, and would eventually claim the set on back-to-back kills by Horenkamp and Allison Hess.
The Pioneers reasserted themselves in the match with a 25-20 win in the third set, opening a 17-8 lead with a 9-0 run and holding on to claim the frame despite a late rally by the Railsplitters. Lincoln Memorial responded early in the fourth set with a 5-1 run to take a 7-5 lead after TC opened the frame with a 4-2 spurt. The Railsplitters would continue the momentum and open a 20-11 advantage with a 13-6 run, closing out the match with a 5-3 spurt to claim its fourth win in conference play.
Tusculum returns to the court on Friday when the Pioneers travel to Gaffney, S.C. for a 7 p.m. match against Limestone College.
- TC -
