GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Eight Pioneers recorded at least one new career-high mark in the slugfest against Mars Hill on Tuesday night (Sept. 6). Tusculum ultimately fell in five sets, despite leading the match 2-0.
The Black and Orange (0-5, 0-2 SAC) lost by scores of 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 25-27, 7-15 to the Lions (5-0, 1-0 SAC).
Mars Hill had three players reach double-digits in kills: Sarah Goddard (16), Jana Cuk (13), and Grace Lilly (12). Jordan Schmucker battled for 37 assists and 14 digs to record her double-double. Laela Jimenez led the Lions with a pair of service aces and 34 digs. Goddard and Lilly rounded out their impressive nights with 12 and 11 digs, respectively. At the net, Goddard took part in six blocks (one solo, five assists), just ahead of Nikkayla Stewart (4) and Cuk (3).
Carly Sosnowski surpassed the 40-dig mark for the first time in her stellar career. Her 41 digs are tied for the eighth-most in a five-set match in program history. Peyton Gash (17), McKayla Willey (4), and Amiranee Au (1) tied or bested their previous best kills, Samantha Bunch upped her new high to 22 assists, while both she and Martina Foster landed their first collegiate service ace. Carli Pigza recorded her first double-double with 16 kills and a career-best 10 digs. She swung at a five-year high of 61 attempts. Au also scooped up a personal record seven digs. Emiah Burrowes tallied two solo blocks, to go along with two block assists, with Foster (4) and Willey (2) are credited with their respective blocking bests.
Other totals of note are Burrowes' 15 kills and 14 digs, alongside Elise Carmichael's 31 assists, 11 digs, and four aces. Bailey Parker also assisted on three blocks in just one set. In the fourth set alone, Gash went 4-for-5 on swings, while Sosnowski notched a best of 10 digs.
Neither team hit exceptionally well on the night. Mars Hill hit .123 as a team with 52 kills and 28 errors on 195 total attempts. Tusculum hit .053 with 58 kills, 47 errors, and 208 total attacks. The Pioneers led the Lions in assists (54-49), service aces (8-3), digs (98-90), and total blocks (11-10).
Throughout the arduous five-setter, the teams combined for 41 ties and 19 lead changes. The second and fourth sets alone accounted for 28 and 12, respectively. Mars Hill saved its best for last, firing on a .316 hitting percentage (7-1-19) in the final frame. Each program held the other to a negative hitting clip in one set: MHU hit -.023 in the second and TU averaged -.045 in the fifth. The Lions also landed two of their three aces in the deciding frame.
Tusculum continues its SAC stretch with a weekend visit to the Old Dominion State. Friday night (Sept. 9) will feature a showdown with the newest member of the league, Emory & Henry. The following afternoon, the Pioneers will face the UVA Wise Cavaliers.
