HICKORY, N.C. — The sixth-seeded Tusculum University women's volleyball team had its season come to an end at the hands of third-seed Lenoir-Rhyne on Tuesday (Nov. 18) in the South Atlantic Conference quarterfinals. 

The Pioneers (9-16) were swept by the Bears (21-6) by scores of 25-20, 27-25, 25-22. This marks the second-straight season that LR has eliminated TU from the SAC Championship in the first round.

Lenoir-Rhyne got 15 and 13 kills, respectively, from Kayli Cleaver and Averie Dale. Emmie Modlin (24) and Alicia Barbarito (15) combined for 39 assists as the setters. Libero Hadley Prince led the Bears with two service aces and 14 digs. Dale was credited with six block assists at the net.

Jaida Alvin led Tusculum with 17 kills, followed by Karris Oller's 10. Rounding out the scoring were Laney Craig (8), Eliza Jewell Oliverius (5), Isabella Bianchin (3), Grace VanZwieten (3), and Mackenzie Land (2). Victoria Church dished out 39 assists and landed two aces, as did Mia Wave-Nelson. Libero Mary Katherine Hall finished with a team-best 12 digs, while Church rounded out a double-double with 10 digs. Defensively, Bianchin was credited with two solo blocks, with Alvin and Oller combining for the remaining rejection. 

Lenoir-Rhyne hit .333 as a team with 50 kills and 10 errors on 120 total attempts. Tusculum hit .225 with 48 kills, 19 errors, and 129 total attacks. The Bears led the Pioneers in assists (45-44), service aces (5-4), digs (54-52), and total blocks (9-3).