MARS HILL, N.C. — The Tusculum University women's volleyball team advances to the South Atlantic Conference tournament, despite the setback at Mars Hill on Friday (Nov. 14) in the regular season finale. The Pioneers will enter as the sixth-seed at the event.

The Pioneers (9-15, 7-11 SAC) were undone by the Lions (11-13, 7-11 SAC) by scores of 23-25, 16-25, 25-19, 11-25.

Ioana Poenaru finished with a match-best 21 kills for Mars Hill, who also clinched a tournament berth with the win. Alyssa Kornegay (28) and Mackenzie Schmucker (19) combined for 47 assists, as the latter accounted for a pair of service aces. Defensively, libero Laela Jimenez scooped up a match-high 26 digs, while Brooke Hoffman was credited with seven block assists.

Karris Oller led Tusculum with an errorless 13 kills on a .361 hitting percentage, while also landing the lone ace for the Pioneers. Joining her were eight teammates with at least two kills: Breana Pelbath (9), Laney Craig (9), Jaida Alvin (8), Isabella Bianchin (4), Eliza Jewell Oliverius (3), Mackenzie Land (3), Adreana Lee (2), and Victoria Church (2). Church also had a ridiculous double-double of 45 assists and a career-high 22 digs. Mia Wave-Nelson and Mary Katherine Hall each recorded double-digit digs with 15 and 14, respectively. At the net, Pelbath, Craig, Alvin, and Bianchin took part in the TU blocks.

Mars Hill hit .224 as a team with 53 kills and 17 errors on 161 total attempts. Tusculum hit .131 with 53 kills, 30 errors, and 176 total attacks. The Lions led the match in service aces (5-1), digs (81-80), and total blocks (11-2), while the Pioneers tallied more assists (52-50).

After the night's results, Tusculum will be on the road for its SAC quarterfinal match as the No. 6 seed. The Pioneers' Tuesday (Nov. 18) contest will feature host, No. 3 seed Lenoir-Rhyne. A time has not been determined at this stage.