TIGERVILLE, S.C. – The Lincoln Memorial University men's volleyball team (5-5) returns from an eight-day layoff for a road match at North Greenville (5-8) on Saturday. The Railsplitters, winners of two straight, will look to win their first match away from Mary Mars Gymnasium on the season and get back above .500. The Crusaders have lost four straight entering their Friday night home match with Emmanuel.
Schedule/Gameday Links:
Saturday, February 17 vs. North Greenville (5 p.m.) –
Live Stats
Quick Hits:
- Lincoln Memorial University recorded a program-record 17 blocks to improve to 5-1 at Mary Mars Gymnasium this season with a four-set win over the short-handed Coker Cobras in its most recent match February 9. The Railsplitters won by set scores of 25-17, 25-20, 22-25 and 25-15.
- Of Lincoln Memorial's 17 total blocks, nine came in solo fashion, which is also a program record.
Pedro Carvalho (9),
Evan Cory (8) and
Marcus Molina (6) led that effort at the net.
- Cory led the Railsplitters with 15 kills on a sizzling .520 attack percentage while Carvalho racked up 10 on a .350 clip.
Joshua Riblett added nine and
Jordan Walley contributed eight.
AJ Risavy compiled 39 assists to go with seven digs and three kills.
Logan Kerley led LMU with eight digs.
- Carvalho leads the nation with 12 solo blocks and is fifth in blocks per set at 1.273. He is also 19
th nationally with a .363 attack percentage.
- Lincoln Memorial improved to 5-1 on the season at Mary Mars Gymnasium and 13-6 all-time. This was the team's first home match that extended beyond three sets. The Railsplitters are 0-4 playing away from Harrogate on the year and 2-16 in the program's brief history.
- Eight of LMU's 10 matches on the season have only lasted three sets. The only games that weren't were a five-set loss at Quincy on February 2 and the February 9 Coker match. Lincoln Memorial held a 2-0 lead in both matches.
- Cory has recorded a double-digit kill total in seven of 10 matches and leads the team with 109 kills, 3.30 kills per set (23
rd nationally) and 11 service aces. The sophomore from Metairie, Louisiana has led or been tied for the team lead in kills in all but one match.
Notes on North Greenville:
- The Crusaders are 3-2 at home but have lost their last two home matches to Barton and Mount Olive. The team currently sits in sixth place out of nine teams in Conference Carolinas with a 2-4 record. Those two wins came over Limestone and Erskine, who sit below the Crusaders in the standings.
- North Greenville was most recently swept in straight sets at Conference Carolinas-leading King on Tuesday (12-25, 20-25, 13-25). The Crusaders hit just .027 for the match and committed 21 attack errors. King hit .324 and made only seven attack errors.
- The team also struggled in the serving department by allowing 11 King service aces and committing 12 service errors. The Crusaders only scored one service ace.
- Jackson Gilbert led the Crusaders with six kills but committed eight attack errors and hit -.100. Two other North Greenville starters also recorded a negative attack percentage. No other Crusader tallied five kills—Ben Hamsho and Matthew McManaway had four apiece.
- For the season, North Greenville only has 459 kills (9.8 per set) compared to 543 (11.6) for opponents. Attacking errors are nearly identical (238-239), though the Crusaders have hit just .178 to opponents' .248. Service aces are also nearly even with opponents holding a 59-57 edge.
- Gilbert leads the team with 136 kills and 2.89 kills per set. Hamsho has the best attack percentage at .260. McManaway leads with 12 service aces.
