HARROGATE, Tenn. – Evan Cory racked up a season-high 19 kills while
Pedro Carvalho took part in a program-record 13 blocks as the Lincoln Memorial University men's volleyball team took down North Greenville (9-10) in five sets (20-25, 25-15, 25-18, 27-29, 8-15) Tuesday night at Mary Mars Gymnasium.
The Railsplitters (7-8) improve to 7-1 on the season at home.
LMU never trailed in kills in any set and led 55-42 overall. The Railsplitters also held the advantage in attack percentage (.256-.117), blocks (19-11), digs (44-37) and service aces (10-6). LMU's 19 blocks set a program record as did the team's 35 block assists.
In addition to tallying the highest kill total for an LMU player in a game this year, Cory pitched in three service aces, five solo blocks and hit .500. Riblett added 11 kills and a career-high seven block assists. Carvaho added eight kills.
AJ Risavy dished out a career-high 43 assists while
Logan Kerley and
Lucas Kerley had 10 digs apiece.
Jackson Gilbert and Matthew McManaway posted 10 kills apiece for the Crusaders.
North Greenville took the first three points of the match and led the entirety of the first set. The Crusaders led by as many as six points on two occasions. After falling behind 7-2, the Railsplitters never got closer than three on four occasions with the last being at 13-11. The Railsplitters closed the gap to 21-18, but a 3-0 North Greenville spurt essentially ended the set as the Crusaders went on to take set one 25-20. Kills were tied at 11, but North Greenville hit .269 to LMU's .167. Gilbert and McManaway had four kills apiece.
The Railsplitters never trailed in set two and took five of the first six points. North Greenville cut the lead to 10-8, but a 7-0 LMU run broke the set wide open. Lincoln Memorial also took four of the final five points to clinch the set 25-15. The Railsplitters had distinct edges in kills (13-5) and hitting percentage (.391-.053). Cory had four kills in the set.
North Greenville led in the early part of set three until the Railsplitters went ahead for the first time at 9-8. The Crusaders retook the lead by taking the next two points, but LMU followed with a 10-4 surge to go ahead for good. North Greenville used a 3-0 run to cut the deficit to two at 19-17, but LMU finished the set on a 6-1 run to win 25-18. The Railsplitters again had the edge in kills (14-10) and hitting percentage (.417-.107). Cory had five kills in the set while Riblett added four.
Lincoln Memorial used a 5-0 run to take a 10-6 lead to open the fourth set, but North Greenville responded with a 7-2 run to go ahead 14-13. The Crusaders still led 21-19 before LMU used another 5-0 run to go up 24-21 and play for match point. However, North Greenville took the next four points and eventually won 29-27 to force a deciding fifth set. Kills were tied at 14, and LMU hit .212 to the Crusaders' .167. Cory added six more kills.
Lincoln Memorial never trailed in the fifth set and took an 8-2 lead at the midway point. North Greenville never got closer than four points the rest of the way, and the Railsplitters finished on a 4-1 run to take the match. LMU only held a 3-2 advantage in kills for the set. Neither team hit well as the Railsplitters' .000 edged North Greenville's -.273. Cory had two of LMU's kills.
The Railsplitters will hit the road again for matches at Emmanuel on Friday and Erskine Saturday.
