GREENWOOD – The Lander volleyball team held a 2-1 lead over Georgia College, but fell 3-2 to the Bobcats in a thrilling five-set affair in Finis Horne Arena on Saturday. 

Georgia College (2-1) took the match 22-25, 25-16, 18-25, 25-21, 16-14. 

Lander (1-3) took the early lead, breaking a 14-14 tie in set one with four straight points, including two kills from Deona Mims. Holding a 23-21 lead late in the set, Mims tallied two more kills as the Bearcats took the day's first point. 

The Bobcats responded with a win in set two and led 8-4 in the third stanza before the Bearcats exploded for a 21-10 run to take a 2-1 lead. However, Georgia College answered again in set four to tie the match.

Lander led 6-5 in the decisive set, then withstood a 5-0 Bobcat run and battled back to stave off two match points and tie the score at 14-14 on a Maya Walker Kill. The Bobcats closed out the day with back-to-back kills to end the match.

Christina Aguayo led Lander's attack with 19 kills and added 20 digs, followed by 15 kills from Mims and 14 from Walker. Madilyn Reed tallied 35 assists and 19 digs, while Maddie Moss finished with 22 assists and 12 digs. Maddie Reed led the Bearcats with 22 digs and Hallie Huth added 18 of her own. 

Lander hosts Augusta next Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

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