LMU VOLLEYBALL NEWS

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

Sports Release                                                                       September 23, 2006

Powers finishes off big day with 21 kills as Volleyball sweeps LMU

SALISBURY, NC -- Sophomore Melissa Powers (Bennett, NC) delivered 21 kills and five blocks as Catawba defeated visiting Lincoln Memorial in three games in volleyball action on Saturday night at Goodman Gym. Catawba improves to 7-8 overall, winning by the scores of 30-27, 30-28 and 31-29. Lincoln Memorial falls to 12-4.

Powers had 21 kills on 41 swings with just four errors to pace Catawba in the tightly contested match. Melissa Griffith (Williamsburg, VA) followed with 15 kills and 20 digs. Setter Andi Henderson (Swansboro, NC) had 52 assists and chipped in with seven kills, 11 digs, two aces and a block. Blythe McCulley (Springfield, IL) had 11 kills to lead the Railsplitters and added 13 digs. Freshman setter Amber Vanderlin (Mesquite, TX) had 37 assists, 17 digs and seven kills.

The largest margin of the opening game was three points, a lead each team enjoyed. Lincoln Memorial rallied from an early deficit to lead 13-10 after a McCulley kill, but two kills by Powers erased the margin. Henderson broke a 26-26 tie with a kill and following an attack error Catawba held a 28-26 advantage. Powers would get the final point on a kill.

Catawba jumped to an early lead in game two, but LMU rallied again and led 15-13 when Catawba reeled off nine straight points to take control. The Railsplitters would climb back into the game and tied it at 28-28 on a kill by Alison Hess (Dayton, OH). After a service error by Vanderlin, Henderson scored the final point on an ace for the game win.

LMU got out to an early lead in the third game and kept the lead until the closing points. A kill by freshman Jasmine Chunn (East Bend, NC) gave Catawba its first lead of the final game at 27-26, but LMU got kills by Amanda Horenkamp (Murfreesboro, TN) and Hess to go back on top. LMU held a 29-27 lead, but a kill by Mai Zoua Lo (Hickory, NC) staved off a game point and Tiffany Andrassy (Raleigh, NC) served out the match. Powers had a kill for a 30-29 lead and joined with Henderson on a match-ending block.