Lady Lynx Take Down LCU Red Lions in Three Sets

[October 27, 2018] 

The Lincoln College Women’s Volleyball team traveled across town to face the Lincoln Christian University Red Lions (NAIA) on Thursday evening. The two teams faced each other earlier in the month at Lincoln College in a match LC controlled from start to finish to win in three sets. This time, LCU put up some strong resistance, but the outcome was the same, as Lincoln College was able to come away with another three-set victory.

Both teams started the match hitting the ball well and playing hard on defense. Libero Melanie Murray (Chicago) staked LC to a 4-1 lead after a three-point run of service points, but LCU battled back to tie the score at 5-5. From there, the two teams traded side outs up to an 11-11 tie score. At that point, a kill by junior outside hitter Mikayla Seibert (Mackinaw) returned Murray to the service line. This time the LC senior libero delivered a seven-point run of serves, aided by three more kills from Seibert along the way. From there, the Lady Lynx cruised to a 25-14 set one win.
 

Lincoln College carried the momentum from their opening set victory over to set two and jumped out to a commanding 8-1 lead. LC’s advantage would grow to as large as eight points at 17-9. A late surge by the Red Lions narrowed the margin to just four at 24-20, but a kill by junior outside hitter Hannah Cameron (Lincoln) off an assist from fellow Lincoln Community High School grad Morgan Lolling ended the threat and gave Lincoln the 25-20 win to go up two-sets-to-none.

In set three the Lady Lynx looked to put the match away, but LCU had other plans. The Red Lions took advantage of a run of LC hitting errors and raised their defensive intensity to help build a 9-4 advantage. LC responded and was able to cut the LCU lead down to just one point at 15-14, but a four-point run by the Red Lions seemed to put them in control with a 19-14 lead. An LCU service error cut the lead to four points, but Lincoln Christian was able to hold the lead all the way up to their first set-point opportunity at 24-20.

With no room for error, setter Emma Derry (Augustana) connected with sophomore middle hitter Ashlee Gotter (Ancona) for a quick-set kill to keep Lincoln’s hopes alive. The kill sent first-set serving star Melanie Murray behind the service line.

Her first serve attempt ended in a kill from LC right side hitter Mattie Giese (Highland Park) off a Murray set assist to narrow the gap to 24-22. An LCU hitting error was then followed by a Lincoln College stuff block for a point to quickly tie the score at 24-24 and further move the momentum back in LC’s favor.

After an LCU time out, Murray delivered a service ace to put the Lady Lynx ahead which was followed by another LCU hitting error to give Lincoln College a thrilling come-from-behind 26-24 set three victory which ended the match.

Lincoln College used a balanced offensive attack in this match that saw five players record six or more kills. Mikayla Seibert led all hitters with nine kills while Hannah Cameron, Mattie Giese, Elysa Smith (Metamora) and Ashlee Gotter Each had six kills. Emma Derry recorded 17 set assists and Morgan Lolling was close behind Derry with 15. Melanie Murray tallied 11 digs in the match while defensive specialist Faith McGinnes (Mackinaw) also reached double digits in digs with 10.

LC Coach Mark Tippett was enthusiastic about his team’s performance. “LCU really pushed us in all three sets, and I was impressed with how we responded,” said Tippett. “Our blocking and defense effort were strong tonight, and our passers did an outstanding job of controlling the ball in serve receive. This win was a real team effort and an exciting way to head into our final week of play.”

The victory lifts LC’s record to 17-13. The Lady Lynx will travel to the Olivet-Nazarene University Invite on Saturday for a pair of matches.

[Mark Tippett
Lincoln College
Sports Information]