Lady Mustangs start league play with win

The Lady Mustangs (6-2) overcame early serving problems in game one, blitzed Pisgah in game two and rallied from a big deficit in game three.

"It was a great way to open our conference," Coach Cindi Simmons said. "We came out ready to play. We had a nice comeback in the third game and didnšt get down when we got behind."

SM took a 4-2 lead in the first game on four points from Lindsey Lewis and Kaitlin Ritchie's kill. Cassie Proffitt followed with four points, including an ace, while Green had a kill and Ritchie a block for an 8-2 margin. Ritchie served the final two points.

Game two was no contest. Ritchie ran off six points while Lewis and Green had kills opening a 9-0 lead. Abbey Higgins served three aces in a five-point run, and Green added a kill making it 14-0. Proffitt served the clinching point.

The Sugar Bears jumped to leads of 9-1 and 12-4 in game three. The Lady Mustangs fought back with Ritchie serving seven points, including two aces, and Green, Higgins and Lewis having consecutive kills cutting the gap to 12-11. A kill by Amanda Magruder and a block by Lewis with Green serving put SM up 14-12. The match ended on Ritchiešs kill with Lewis serving.

Green finished with 11 kills while Ritchie and Lewis both had nine. Melissa Collins was tops in assists with 15, and Higgins had 12.

Ritchie led in service points with 16. Higgins served 92.9 percent, and Proffitt served 92.3 percent. Katie Loughlin got both of her serves in. Team serving was 87.7 percent.

The Lady Mustang JVs fell to 4-4 with a 15-7, 12-15, 15-10 loss. Ryan Cook served 12 points in the second game.

"We have not found something that clicks yet," Coach Nikki Young said. "Ryan continues to play consistently. Brittany Hilton blocked well."

Back to Sports: 09/07/00.