HARROGATE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University women's volleyball opened South Atlantic Conference (SAC) play on Tuesday (Sept. 9) night, falling at Lincoln Memorial in straight-sets.

The Pioneers (2-3, 0-1 SAC) fell to the Railsplitters (3-2, 1-0 SAC) by scores of 25-22, 25-22, 26-24.

Kaytlin Johnson tallied 16 kills on a .394 hitting percentage, while setters Carley Raleigh (19) and Lauren Pickett (14) combined for 33 assists. At the line, Sarah Robbins and Pickett landed two service aces. Defensively, Lauren Jacob scooped up 19 digs and Jazmine Starks was credited with two solo blocks.

Eight Pioneers recorded at least one kill in the loss: Jaida Alvin (9), Karris Oller (9), Mackenzie Land (7), Adreana Lee (5), Jordyn Roderick (4), Breana Pelbath (4), Taylor Sanders (1), and Victoria Church (1). Church and Solene Roussel were responsible for 17 and 12 assists, respectively. Sanders was tagged with two aces, while Land added 10 digs. At the net, Pelbath had a hand in all three Tusculum blocks.

Lincoln Memorial hit .241 as a team with 41 kills and 15 errors on 108 total attempts. Tusculum hit .267 with 40 kills, 21 errors, and 114 total attacks. The Railsplitters led the Pioneers in service aces (8-4) and total blocks (4-3), while the teams tied with 37 assists and 47 digs each.

Tusculum hosts a tri-match on Friday, September 12, dubbed the Pioneer Invitational. TU takes on Montevallo at noon and Southern Wesleyan at 7 p.m., with the neutral match set for 4 p.m.