The Western Division fifth-seeded Belmont Abbey volleyball team became the first Conference Carolinas opponent, and just the fourth opponent this year, to take top-seed Lees-McRae Bobcats to a fifth set, but the homestanding Bobcats had just enough to avoid an upset with a 3-2 Conference Carolinas Tournament Quarterfinal win this evening. Set scores were 23-25, 32-30, 23-25, 26-24 and 12-15. Lees-McRae, which had only dropped six sets in 18 unbeaten Conference matches this year, advances to the semifinal round with a record of 25-8, while the Crusaders end their season with a mark of 18-15.

Belmont Abbey held the lead for most of the first set but Lees-McRae used a late offensive charge to take a 1-0 lead. The second set saw the Abbey fight off five set points as it tied the match at one with a pair of offensive errors by the Bobcats. In the third, the Abbey led 23-22 on a kill by Bria James, but Lees-McRae won the next three points to take a 2-1 lead.

The Crusaders went overtime again in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth. Deadlocked at 23, Lees-McRae used an Abbey ball-handling error to move to match point, but a Bobcats service error extended the match. After another Bobcats error moved the Abbey ahead by one, Remick Tiller knocked down a kill to force the deciding set.

In the fifth, Lees-McRae bolted out to a 6-3 lead but the Crusaders won the next six points to move ahead 9-6. That was answered by three-straight Lees-McRae points to tie the set at nine, and a Bobcats attack error moved the Abbey back in front at 10-9. Stefanie Holler made it 11-9 with a kill, but Lees-McRae won six of the next seven points to escape with the win.

Angela Jubb led the Abbey with 17 kills on 40 attacks with ten errors (.175) to go along with three service aces and six block assists. Lydia Schellenberg added 10 with a team-high 22 digs. Kay Schellenberg posted 45 assists and ten digs. The Crusaders finished with 85 digs as James and Jubb both finished with 11. Tiller totaled 15.

Megan Epperson led all players with 18 kills, while Taylor Clendenin added 14. Lauren Fox and Megan Mitchell posted 11 each. Mitchell totaled 48 assists and 16 digs. Sariah Suryadevera led all players with 32 digs as the Bobcats posted 92. They also finished with 22 service errors and 11 aces.