Bridgewater, Va. -- Spurred by huge matches from senior Sydney Frink and freshman Abbi Leeper, University of Lynchburg's volleyball team salvaged a Saturday split on day two of the Route 42 Classic at Bridgewater College, rebounding from a four-set morning loss to Meredith to top Catholic in a dramatic five sets in the afternoon.

Leeper tallied the first two double-doubles of her collegiate career, posting 31 kills and 22 digs for the Hornets (3-1) over the two contests. Frink had Lynchburg's first 20-kill effort of the 2019 season against Catholic and ended the day with 25 digs.

Senior libero Lauren Stanford totaled 59 digs over the two matches, including a career-high 38 versus Catholic.

The nightcap with the Cardinals (1-1) finished up a nailbiter as the two teams played 18-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 into the fifth set. Trailing 13-9 in the deciding frame, Lynchburg mounted a 5-1 run to tie the match at 14 and eventually clinched the match on back-to-back kills by Leeper. The freshman closed out a fantastic weekend with a 15-kill, 11-dig effort; Erin Farina had 28 assists and 13 digs; and Annie Tynes tacked on 12 digs and four aces.

After the Meredith (3-0) took the first set in Saturday's opener, 25-20, Lynchburg responded with a 25-18 victory in the second behind six kills from Leeper. The Avenging Angels closed out the match with set wins at 25-21 and 25-9. 

Leeper had 16 kills in the match and 11 digs, while Farina had 20 assists, five digs, and a pair of aces.

The Hornets will be back in action next weekend at Gallaudet University's tournament in Washington, D.C.

--LYN--