Box Score
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Junior
Sarah Jones posted a career-high 18 kills, but it wasn't quite enough as the Concord University volleyball team lost 3-1 at King University Tuesday night.
The Mountain Lions dropped the first two sets 25-23, 25-19 before forcing a fourth set with a 25-23 win in the third. However, King ended the Mountain Lions' comeback bid with a 25-21 victory in the fourth set.
Jones' 18 kills eclipsed her previous career-best of 16, set last season against Kutztown. Her .268 attack percentage was a team-high for the match as well. Junior
Brytni Willis chipped in nine kills while freshman
Felicia Huerta and junior
Whytni Willis added four kills each.
Brytni Willis also made 14 digs, finishing one kill shy of her third double-double of the season.
As a team, Concord (7-7, 0-0 MEC) blocked a total of six shots. Freshman
Lauren Richardson led the way four blocks (one solo / three assisted) while Jones,
Whytni Willis and senior
Jasmin Sutherland all added two assisted blocks. For the season, Richardson has compiled a team-best 48 blocks (14 solo / 34 assisted).
Junior
Amanda Walker came away with 22 assists, her third match of the year with at least 20 assists, and was one of three Mountain Lions, along with
Whytni Willis and junior
Lindsey Smith to serve two aces. Smith also produced a team-best 17 digs.
Concord traded points with King in the opening set with neither side being able to gain a distinct advantage until King went on a 5-1 run to open up an 18-13 lead before the Mountain Lions climbed back into the match with a 9-4 spurt of their own to tie the contest a 22-22. However, the Tornado's the benefited from back-to-back kills by Maribeth Kern and a CU attack error to escape with the three-point win in the opening set.
The Maroon and Gray led early in the second set, but King quickly grabbed the lead at 5-4, never relinquishing the advantage on its way to the 25-19 victory. The Tornado's led by as many as five points (12-7) in the third set before Concord rattled off 16 of the next 23 points to take a commanding 23-19 lead, eventually finishing off King, and avoiding the sweep, 25-23.
The Mountain Lions battled hard in the fourth set and managed to erase a King's 20-14 lead with a 6-0 run, but were ultimately unable to extend the match as King finished off CU by taking five of the next six points for the 25-21 match-clinching victory.
Lauren Willoughby led King with 14 kills
Concord will now turn its focus to conference play and prepare for two home Mountain East Conference contests this weekend against Shepherd 7:00 p.m. Friday and Fairmont State 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Carter Center.
