GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team was swept by Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday night (Feb. 14) in Independent Volleyball Association (IVA) play.
The Railsplitters (10-4, 3-0 IVA) handled the Pioneers (3-10, 1-3 IVA) by scores of 25-12, 25-12, 25-14.
Lincoln Memorial had a fiery hitting night, led by Justin Sharfenaker's 11-for-12 outing (.917%). Kohl Kutsch dished out 28 assists, while Matthew Gentry landed three service aces. Libero Tate Colebaugh notched seven digs in the match and Gentry tallied four block assists.
Tusculum tested a different rotation against the Railsplitters. Tristan Blake led the Pioneers with five kills on a .400 hitting percentage, followed by Deklan Wingo (4), Shaphar Grant (3), Hunter Walck (2), Jake Whyte (2), and Colby Landry (1). The setting duo of Blake (11) and Jaden Bramhall (5) recorded 16 assists. Wingo and Taylor West tied with a team-high three digs. Bramhall recorded a career-best four total blocks (one solo, three assists), ahead of Grant's three (one solo, two assists).
Lincoln Memorial hit .500 as a team with 36 kills and eight errors on 56 total attempts. Tusculum averaged -.077 with 17 kills, 22 errors, and 65 total attacks. The Railsplitters led the Pioneers in assists (35-17), service aces (6-0), digs (21-10), and total blocks (9-5).
Tusculum gets a 10-day layoff before a weekend trip to Georgia (Feb. 24-25). The Pioneers will start at Fort Valley State in the first of two meetings this season against the Wildcats. Friday night's first serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.