The wins keep piling up for Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball, as they took down Concord and Mount Olive on Saturday to move to 7-0 on the young season. This marks the best start for the Bears since 2018.
In a 3-0 win over Concord, it was a back-and-forth to start the opening set, a Kathy Pater and Kayli Cleaver block ignited a 7-1 run, putting the Bears up 18-11. Kills by Cleaver, Jenna Vogen, and Averie Dale late sealed a 25-22 set victory.
Big blocks from Averie Dale and Taylor Osborne gave LR a 25-19 second set win.
Tied at 21-21 in the third set, the Bears scored four of the game’s final five points to take the 3-0 victory. Kaylie Cleaver (13) and Jenna Vogen (10) each notched double-digit kills. Sydney Karjala (23) and Rachel Wildermuth (13) led the team in assists. Four Bears finished with double-digit digs. Kathy Peter and Averie Dale combined for 11 blocks.
As a team, LR’s 11 total blocks was a season high. Averie Dale lead the SAC in blocks/set (1.28). The Bear’s only had 10 hitting errors, their second lowest all season.
This was the first matchup between the two schools since 1995. The Bears hold a 6-3 advantage over the Mountain Lions.
In a 3-1 win over Mount Olive, the Bears found themselves down 16-12, but closed the opening set on a 13-3 run to go up 1-0. The Trojans held on to an early lead to take the second set 25-20. Mount Olive mounted a big comeback to take a 23-22 lead on the Bears in set two.
A clutch kill from Kayli Cleaver and ace from Ella Wimsatt gave LR the 25-23 set three victory. The Bears opened set four on an 11-3 run and didn’t look back, taking the set 25-11.
A balanced effort, only Kayli Cleaver (12) notched double-digit kills. Sydney Karjala and Rachel Wildermuth combined for 36 assists. Kathy Peter led with six blocks. As a team, the Bears outhit the Trojans .270 to .147.
Karjala and Wildermuth have had double-digit assists in every game this season. Lenoir-Rhyne has lost just four sets all season. The Bears now lead the all-time series over Mount Olive 10-0.
LR will be back in action at Mount Olive Saturday when they take on Edinboro (PA) at 10 a.m. and Shaw at 2 p.m
More on Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball Continues Strong Start available on WHKY.
