GREENWOOD – The Lander volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat Tusculum and wrap up the PBC/SAC Crossover with a 2-2 record on Saturday evening in Horne Arena. 

The Bearcats (11-7) dropped a 22-25, 15-25, 14-25 decision to Mars Hill before pulling off a 16-25, 29-31, 25-12, 26-24, 15-9 win over the Pioneers. 

"These girls showed true heart and true grit," head coach Ashley White said of the rally. "They really bought in to what I was trying to sell them in between games and made the change mentally. They amaze me every day because their ability level is so much higher than they even realize."

Mars Hill took advantage of 27 errors committed by the Bearcats en route to the three set victory in the day's first match. Senior outside hitter Lauren Hochstetler led the Lions with 11 kills on the game. Lander struggled to find early success in the three games as Mars Hill jumped out to leads of 13-6, 14-7, and 15-7 in the respective three sets.

The Bearcats managed to cut the Mars Hill lead to two points late in the first set with the score 23-21. However the Lions weathered the Lander comeback behind a kill and a block from junior right side hitter Maddie Spurgeon. Freshman Hannah Hritz and senior Kristin Martindale recorded a team-high nine kills in the losing effort. Junior Sophia Perkins led the team with 17 assists, while sophomore Hannah McManus recorded 22 digs.

After dropping the first two sets against Tusculum, the Bearcats dominated the third set with a 12-1 closing run to stay alive. Lander trailed 24-21 in the fourth set before back-to-back kills from Hritz and Imari Ashley. A Tusculum attack error gave the Bearcats the lead and another kill from Ashley gave Lander the 26-24 win and forced a fifth and deciding set. 

Tied at 7-7 in the fifth, the Bearcats embarked on a 6-0 run, capped by an ace from Perkins. A Hritz kill put Lander up 14-8 and Reyonia Whipple finished with a kill two points later to give the Bearcat the come-from-behind victory.

Hannah McManus set a career-high with 44 digs in the win over the Pioneers, while Reilly Kuenstler registered a career-high 16 kills. Hritz's 17 kills led the Bearcats, while Perkins tallied 34 assists. 

Lander returns to action on Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. match at Limestone.