HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial women's volleyball team swept USC Aiken before taking down Georgia College & State University on Friday's Day 1 of the South Atlantic Conference / Peach Belt Conference Challenge. The Railsplitters (8-16) were propelled by Kristen Moehring's 24 kills, 21 digs, six blocks and four aces to beat the Pacers and Bobcats at Mary Mars Gym.

Match 1 vs USC Aiken

Set 1: Lincoln Memorial 25-15
The Railsplitters controlled the balance of the opening frame, leading by at least two the rest of the way after starting out up 4-1. Lincoln Memorial used four 3-0 scoring runs to create separation, including two late as part of a 6-1 spurt to clinch the set. Moehring's kill put an exclamation point on the opening frame where she had three kills, three digs and an ace.

Set 2: Lincoln Memorial 25-15
Amanda Lisi's ace put the hosts up 3-0, and they would lead the set from start to finish. Later kills by Moehring and Maggie Sanderson highlighted a 5-0 scoring run to extend Lincoln Memorial's advantage to 16-7, and the home team would cruise from there, eventually clinching the period on Katherine Bedel's kill. Moehring led both the offense and defense for the Railsplitters with three kills and seven digs in the second frame.

Set 3: Lincoln Memorial 26-24
The most competitive set of the match featuring seven ties and two lead changes, neither team led by more than two points until a 7-2 Railsplitter rally put Lincoln Memorial ahead 18-13. The Pacers later rode a 6-0 run to regain the lead at 24-21, but kills by Moehring and Sierrah Lemons plus two from Gabriela Abreu, including the clinching point, constituted a 5-0 run that put the set and match in favor of the home team. Lemons, Moehring and Sanderson had four kills each in the final frame.

Stat of the Match
Lincoln Memorial outblocked USC Aiken 9 to 2.

Inside the Box Score
- Moehring posted a double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs while adding an ace and a solo block.
- MJ Trujillo collected 17 digs and two assists.
- Lisi stuffed the stat sheet with 29 assists, eight digs, three aces and a block.
- Sanderson had 10 points on eight kills, two block assists and one solo block.
 
Match 2 vs Georgia College

Set 1: Lincoln Memorial 25-21
The Railsplitters led 4-1 early thanks to kills by Bedel and Moehring. A later 7-2 run extended the advantage to seven points at 15-8, but the Bobcats got right back in it with a 5-0 spurt of their own. Georgia College would eventually tie it at 18-all, but the hosts took 7 of 10 points to close out the set. Moehring's four kills and Trujillo's five digs paced Lincoln Memorial in the first frame.

Set 2: Georgia College 25-20
After the Bobcats led 3-0, Abreu and Bedel put down kills to highlight a 3-0 Lincoln Memorial run to tie the set. Three Lemons kills and a kill and an ace from Moehring later contributed to a 7-0 run to put the hosts ahead 11-6. Georgia College steadily rallied back until taking the final six points of the frame after being down 20-19. Abreu led the Lincoln Memorial offense with four kills in the second set.

Set 3: Lincoln Memorial 25-12
The hosts strung together a pair of 6-0 scoring runs to gain momentum, the first one to take a 10-4 lead and the second to take a 21-9 advantage. Ketura Margaret's kill clinched the set for Lincoln Memorial. Sanderson's four kills and Moehring's two aces paced the Railsplitters in the third period.

Set 4: Lincoln Memorial 25-23
A 6-0 Georgia College run put the visitors ahead 11-5, but three separate 4-0 Lincoln Memorial rallies were enough to fuel a comeback for the hosts, and they would clinch the set and match on Lemons' kill. Lemons had five kills and Trujillo had six digs in the fourth and final frame of the day.

Stat of the Match
The Railsplitters had three players with at least 10 kills and five digs (Abreu, Moehring and Sanderson).

Inside the Box Score
- Moehring went for 19.5 points on 14 kills, five blocks and three aces while adding seven digs.
- MJ Trujillo collected 15 digs and five assists.
- Lisi had a double-double with 43 assist and 12 digs in addition to two blocks and an ace.
- Abreu (11 kills, six digs) and Sanderson (11 kills, seven digs) had big games in both phases of the game.

Up Next
The Railsplitters host Lander on Saturday at 2 p.m. in their final match of the SAC/PBC Challenge.