HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The Lincoln Memorial University men's volleyball program exacted some revenge on Lees-McRae for a straight-set defeat in Banner Elk, N.C. January 13 with a five-set win over the Bobcats on Friday night at Mary Mars Gymnasium. The Railsplitters (3-5) remain unbeaten at Mary Mars Gymnasium and have won consecutive matches for the first time in program history. Meanwhile, the Bobcats (2-4) have dropped four of five matches since their season-opening victory over the Railsplitters.

Lees-McRae held a 56-50 advantage in kills for the match, including winning the category in every set, but also committed a season-high 30 errors.

Joshua Riblett (Torrence, Calif.) led the Railsplitter attack with a career-high 16 kills, which is also the highest output in program history to date. Evan Cory (Metairie, La.) added a career-best 14, which stands as the team's second-best total of the season. Pedro Carvalho (Sao Paulo, Brazil) pitched in nine kills and a career-high seven total blocks. Ryan Iskandar (Tempe, Ariz.) also matched a career high with 39 assists.

Lees-McRae's John Sobel led all players with a season-high 20 kills. Wes Rogman added 15 more kills. Reto Pfund was the primary facilitator with a career-best 51 assists. Mark Shayka pitched in 10 kills but also committed 10 errors. Keenan Freitas, who led the country in digs per set entering the match, was held to just 8 digs.

Lincoln Memorial led for the early portion of the first set, but the Bobcats stormed back to tie the score at 13. Lees-McRae took its only lead at 15-14, but the Railsplitters regained control afterward and took 10 of the final 14 rallies to win the first set 25-19.

Lees-McRae led the entirety of the second set, but the Railsplitters remained within three points until late. With the score 17-16 in favor of the Bobcats, Lees-McRae used a 5-0 run to take command. Lincoln Memorial narrowed the deficit back to three at 24-21, but it was too little too late as Hector Serviat hit home the winning point. Sobel hit home seven of his 20 kills in the set.

The third set was a back-and-forth affair. Lincoln Memorial used a 9-3 run to take a 10-6 advantage only for the Bobcats to take an 18-17 lead. The Railsplitters used another run to re-take the lead go up 22-19. The teams traded the next six sets, and a service error from Chris Woolsayer clinched the set victory. Riblett and Cory led the way offensively with four kills apiece.

Lees-McRae once again took control in the fourth set and prevented the Railsplitters from going on any significant run. The Bobcats again jumped ahead early but could not build more than a three-point advantage. Lincoln Memorial used a 4-0 run to take a short-lived 15-13 lead, but the Bobcats responded with an 8-1 run of their own to regain control. The Railsplitters could not come back and ultimately fell 25-20 to force a deciding fifth set.

Lincoln Memorial used a 7-2 run early in the fifth set to jump ahead 9-5 and force a Lees-McRae timeout. That lead was cut to one at 10-9 and again at 14-13, but the Railsplitters won the ensuing point on both occasions. The final one was a kill from Riblett to clinch the set and match.

Lincoln Memorial next travels to Fairfield, Connecticut to face off against Sacred Heart on February 4 and 5. Both games are slated for 1 p.m. start times.