Tusculum Comeback Hands LMU Final Loss of the Season

HARROGATE, TN – The Lady Railsplitter volleyball team won the opening two games of Tuesday night’s Halloween match with visiting Tusculum College only to see the Pioneers rally to end LMU’s year on a sour note. (Box score)

LMU came out strong, withstanding a late game charge by Tusculum to come away with a 30-27 win.  In game two, the Lady Railsplitters got the jail break going early and rolled to a crushing 30-11 win for a 2-0 match lead.

In game three, a clear momentum switch in favor of Tusculum was apparent and the Pioneers quickly got back in the match with a 30-15 win.  As game four got underway, the Lady Railsplitters were playing somewhat on their heels and it was Tusculum that outlasted a late LMU charge to come away with the 30-25 win.

The match tied at 2-2, game five was a going to be won by the team that scored two consecutive points.  While LMU led 8-6 at the midway point, the Pioneers again rallied from behind and won a 15-12 decision to end Lincoln Memorial’s year at 19-12.

LMU had no answer for Tusculum’s Vivian Lacy who finished the match with a game-high 21 kills.  Lacy also scored a double-double by recording 20 digs.  Teammates Holli Cadenhead, Heather MacArthur and Vanessa Fortes also turned in double figure kills, while the Pioneers Stacy Ray handed out 57 assists.

Defensively it took the Lady Pioneers a while to get their game together.  However, when they did, they put up tremendous numbers.  Defensive Specialist Alexis Rowles turned in a solid effort of 25 digs, while Lacy added 20, Cadenhead 19, Ray 11 and Sonya Hunt 10.  Fortes was also a force at the net with 7 blocks for Tusculum.

The Lincoln Memorial attack was spearheaded in the middle with Alison Hess (Dayton, OH) and Joy Otto (Barrington, IL).  Hess finished the match with 14 kills, while Otto added 12.  LMU setter Amber Vanderlin (Mesquite, TX) distributed 44 assists.

Lady Railsplitter senior Blythe McCulley (Springfield, IL) left it all on the court in her last match.  McCulley finished the night with a 17 digs, while Vanderlin had 16 and freshman Amanda HorenKamp (Murfreesboro, TN) had 11.  The Lady Splitters were led in the category by junior defensive specialist Jency Basinger (Temecula, CA) with 26 digs.