Harrogate, TN -- The Lincoln Memorial women's volleyball team delivered a dominant performance to sweep Emory & Henry in three successive sets, securing their second victory in as many days following a grueling five-set win over UVA-Wise just one day prior. In the opening set, Lincoln Memorial asserted control early as Lauren Pickett sparked the offense while Jazmine Starks anchored the net play to build a commanding advantage. Despite a brief scoring run by the Wasps featuring a service ace and multiple kills to narrow the gap, the Railsplitters capitalized on opponent errors and efficient distributions to pull away. Laney Inman contributed crucial points down the stretch with precise kills and an ace, allowing Lincoln Memorial to cruise to a comfortable 25-13 victory capped by a visiting team miscue.
The second set featured more of the same high-energy execution from the home side, though the Wasps initially traded blows through aggressive attacking and sharp court coverage. Kaytlin Johnson quickly shifted momentum back to Lincoln Memorial with key kills facilitated by Pickett and Georgia Dobson, while Starks dominated the middle with crucial blocks and finishes. Although Emory & Henry attempted a late surge behind strong serving and timely scoring from their front line, the Railsplitters maintained composure. Milyn Minor capped off the frame with a decisive kill off a feed from Jana Petkovic, sealing a 25-14 triumph and pushing the match point in favor of Lincoln Memorial.
Looking to complete the sweep in the third set, Lincoln Memorial faced its stiffest challenge of the evening as the Wasps traded point for point through the early rotations. Emory & Henry remained competitive with consistent offensive pressure, forcing the Railsplitters to dig deep into their depth chart with contributions from Sarah Robbins and Megan Maier. Trailing midway through the frame, Lincoln Memorial relied on smart distribution from Pickett to Kaytlin Johnson and Starks for critical momentum-shifting kills. After a tightly contested battle down the stretch, Starks delivered the final blow off a pinpoint assist from Pickett to secure a 25-21 set win and complete the stellar 3-0 sweep for the Railsplitters. During the match, Pickett became the 9th Lincoln Memorial women's volleyball player to eclipse 2,000 career assists as well, forever etching her name into the blue and gray record books.
