BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Converse College volleyball team could not hold a 2-0 match lead, falling in five sets to Lees-McRae College on Friday evening inside the Williams Physical Education Center.
MATCH INFORMATION
Scores: Converse 2, Lees-McRae 3 (25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 23-25, 13-15)
Records: Converse (9-18, 5-6 CC), Lees-McRae (9-12, 7-4 CC)
Location: Williams P.E. Center, Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, N.C.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Brittany Tepedino finished with 13 kills and 12 digs.
- Elizabeth Coffey joined Tepedino in double-digit kills with 12.
- Jasmine Finkley and Kiara Cannon added nine and eight kills, respectively.
- Lauren Tharrington dished out 30 assists, while Elizabeth Yohe anchored the defense with 19 digs.
- Sara Grace Westmoreland and Kelsey Elliott each finished with 12 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set One
Lees-McRae went up 11-5 early in the opening set, but Converse, behind the service of Cannon and a strong attack game, closed the gap to 12-9 with four straight points. After the Bobcats took the next point, the Valkyries ripped off a massive 11-2 run, taking a commanding 20-15 lead late in the frame.
However, LMC took four in row of its own to come to within a single point (20-19) and once again at 23-22, but it was not enough as a Tepedino kill capped off two of three points for the Valkyries, giving Converse a 25-23 set win.
Set Two
Converse came out strong in set two, building a 13-7 lead to start. That advantage reached as many as nine points (22-13). With Converse leading 24-15, Lees-McRae attempted a comeback, staving off four consecutive set points, but a Finkley kill closed the door on the Bobcats and gave Converse a dominant 2-0 match lead.
Set Three
After the two teams traded the initial 12 points of the third set, Lees-McRae tallied three in a row to take a 9-6 lead. That lead would not be relinquished as LMC forced a pivotal fourth set with a 25-23 set three win.
Set Four
Converse came out of the gates cruising in set four, taking a 15-10 lead midway through. However, Lees-McRae ripped off seven in a row to take the lead 17-15. From that point it was back-and-forth as the two teams battled for the vital fourth set.
The Bobcats put the pressure on the Vals after taking a 23-20 advantage, but Converse battled back to within 24-23. Unfortunately, it was not enough as a kill by Kaden Hill sent the game into the decisive fifth set.
Set Five
In a race to 15, the Bobcats came out strong early, taking an 8-6 lead at the side exchange. Converse then took advantage of a handful of mistakes by the Bobcats, regaining the lead 10-9. The next six points were exchanged, but with the Vals leading 13-12, LMC took the final three points of the set to complete the comeback.
UP NEXT
The Valkyries will return to the court tomorrow afternoon, traveling to Bristol, Tenn. to face off against King University. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.