Arlington, Va. -- University of Lynchburg's volleyball team opened the season Saturday morning with a grueling five-set defeat, 25-22, 20-25, 25-17, 17-25, 15-12, on the road at Marymount.

Junior right side Emma Drake put down a team-high 17 kills to go with three blocks, and sophomore outside Abbi Leeper contributed 14 kills and nine digs. 

Junior libero Flinn Christian tallied 18 digs, three assists, and two aces, and freshman setter Taylor Breeden set up 41 assists for the Hornets (0-1).

Neither team was able to take consecutive sets in the back-and-forth match. Down two sets to one, Lynchburg rallied with a 10-1 run in the fourth stanza to get that set fully in hand.

The Hornets took an 11-9 lead in the deciding fifth after a Natalie Lavelle ace, but MU (1-0) finished the match on a 6-1 run to claim victory.

Lynchburg's volleyball team will make its 2021 home debut Wednesday, March 3 at 5 p.m. in another non-conference tilt against the Knights of Southern Virginia.

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--LYN--