Lynchburg, Va. -- University of Lynchburg's volleyball team celebrated Senior Day with a pair of non-conference victories inside Turner Gymnasium Saturday.

The Hornets topped Virginia University of Lynchburg in straight sets, 25-5, 25-3, 25-5, and capped the day with a thrilling five-set victory over Virginia State, 21-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-8.

Prior to the Virginia State match, the Hornets celebrated the senior class of 2023 -- Calli Clevinger and Abbi Leeper.

Lynchburg started the day in record-breaking fashion against VUL, serving up a program-best 31 aces in the sweep of the Dragons. The Hornets' .622 attack percentage was the third-best in program lore. Sophia Rucker led the way with 12 aces of her own – the second most ever by a Lynchburg volleyball player – along with seven kills, and Kyrie Thibodeau added 17 assists and six aces, both career-highs for the freshman. Landon Spotts collected six aces and six kills, and Tiana Artese and Clevinger had five kills apiece in the sweep.

The Hornets suffered a slow start in the second match of the day, dropping the first two sets to VSU before kicking it into gear. Leeper's five-kill effort in the third set propelled Lynchburg to the 25-19 win that turned the tide, and the Hornets rolled to victory. The Hornets fell behind early in the fourth set before using a 5-0 run at the set's midway point to take control of the set. After falling behind early in the fifth, a 7-0 Lynchburg run put the match in the bag. Leeper put down the clinching kill to finish Senior Day off right.

Mya Green dished out a career-high 58 assists in the five-set victory, and Kailey Keough logged a double-double with a match-best 16 kills and 12 digs to highlight five Hornets in double-figure kills. Princess Salifou and Leeper both totaled 13, Bree Spainhour had 12, and Rucker chipped in 10. Cassi Blackmore picked up 27 digs, and Morgan Clarke added 16 digs and four aces for the Hornets. 

Lynchburg (13-10) will return to Old Dominion Athletic Conference play at 6 p.m. Wednesday at home against Virginia Wesleyan.

Visit Lynchburg athletics' home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network. Click here to sign up for email and text alerts from Lynchburg athletics.

Give Lynchburg Sports a like on Facebook, and follow Lynchburg athletics on Instagram and Twitter.

--LYN--