Lynchburg, Va. -- University of Lynchburg's volleyball team resumed winning form Saturday with a pair of sweeps over visiting Kenyon and Johnson & Wales Charlotte inside Turner Gymnasium. The matches were half of a quadrupleheader on Wayne Proffitt Court Saturday; crosstown rival Randolph College also played both out-of-town opponents.

The Hornets started the day with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 sweep of Kenyon before polishing off the day with another straight-set victory, defeating Johnson & Wales, 25-18, 25-19, 27-25.

Sophia Rucker led the way for the Hornets with 15 kills, six blocks, and two aces over the two victories, Abbi Leeper put down a team-best 21 kills, and Mya Green distributed 60 assists and three aces.

Lynchburg started off slow in the opening match against Kenyon. The Owls jumped out to an early lead with a 4-1 run and held onto the advantage until the Hornets tied the set at 10-10 as part of a 6-0 run. Lynchburg never trailed again in the set. The Hornets controlled the second with a similar mid-set run, and after playing back-and-forth again early in the third, pulled away to nail down the sweep.

Leeper's 15 kills led the Hornet offense, while Cassi Blackmore made 18 digs to anchor the back line. Green chipped in 36 assists, eight digs, and two blocks.

The Hornets continued their winning ways in the nightcap against Johnson & Wales. After a closely contested early going, Lynchburg finished the first set with an 11-5 run to get the lead comfortably, thanks in large part to five kills by Rucker. The Hornets easily captured the second set as well, but JWU came back with a vengeance in the third. The Wildcats ripped off an 8-3 run in the late going to take a 22-21 lead and had a set-point at 24-23. Lynchburg held the line, however, and a block by Leeper and Princess Salifou followed by Leeper's kill tilted the scales in favor of the sweep.

Rucker had the big match for the Hornets, totaling a career-best 12 kills to go with four blocks while hitting .500 over the three sets. Blackmore added 15 digs, while setters Green (24 assists) and Jaina Leek (13 assists) also made big contributions.

Lynchburg (8-9) will resume ODAC play at home against Randolph Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

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