LCU volleyball opens season with 3 wins

[September 04, 2013]  The Lincoln Christian University volleyball team ended their 2012 season by placing in the Final Four at the NCCAA II national tournament in Orlando, Fla. This year, as LCU prepares to host the national tournament, the volleyball team looks to improve on that finish, beginning the season with three wins out of four games over the weekend.

Friday night, LCU played host to Moody Bible Institute. LCU used the match to start the season with a bang, dominating Moody in all aspects. LCU won in three sets with scores of 25-7, 25-9 and 25-11. All 14 players on LCU's roster were able to record playing time. LCU junior Alicia Carson (Gobles, Mich./Bloomingdale High) picked up where she left off last year, recording 15 kills on the night. Freshman outside hitter Abbey Akre (Newark/Newark Community High) followed up Carson with nine kills of her own, along with 11 digs.

On Saturday, the LCU volleyball team traveled to Monmouth for the Monmouth Volleyball Invitational. LCU had another successful day, as they went 2-1.

In their first match, they squared off against Knox College. LCU won in three straight sets with scores of 25-21, 25-14, 25-14. Carson led in kills again with 11, while Akre and senior Emily Sheley (Lincoln/Lincoln Community High) were right behind her with 10 kills each. Junior libero Emma Donnelly (Clinton/Clinton High) recorded 27 digs.

In their second match, LCU faced off against Iowa Wesleyan College. Last year when LCU and Iowa Wesleyan faced off, IWC handled LCU mightily by winning in three straight sets. This year was different, as LCU beat IWC in three straight sets with scores of 26-24, 25-16 and 25-22. LCU was solid as a team, with Carson, Akre and Sheley leading the way with nine kills each. Senior setter Hannah Taylor (Mishawaka, Ind./Jimtown High) also recorded four service aces.

In the final match of the weekend, LCU went toe-to-toe with Monmouth College. The game went to five sets, with Monmouth pulling away with the victory but having to fight hard to get it. LCU lost the match with scores of 25-11, 24-26, 19-25, 25-22 and 14-16. In this match, Carson stepped up big by recording 20 kills, while Akre followed with 10. Donnelly recorded 42 digs.

LCU volleyball will return to the court this week on Friday and Saturday as they host the Red Lions Invitational at the Gaston Arena in LCU's Laughlin Center. LCU will face off against Johnson University at 3 p.m. Friday and face No. 5-ranked Manhattan Christian College at 7 p.m. On Saturday, LCU will square off against Grace University at noon and play No. 8 Ohio Christian University at 2 p.m.

[Text from file received from Lincoln Christian University]

LCU volleyball

Lincoln Christian University is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, Division II. Founded in Lincoln in 1944, Lincoln Christian's three schools -- the School of Undergraduate Studies, the Hargrove School of Adult & Graduate Studies, and the Seminary -- share a mission to nurture and equip Christians with a biblical worldview to serve and lead in the church and the world. For more information about the Red Lions, visit LincolnChristian.edu/athletics.