BANNER ELK, N.C. --- Freshman Darian Parsons produced a double-double with 22 assists and 10 digs and Haylee Leonard notched a match-high 17 kills, but the Lees-McRae women's volleyball team dropped a heartbreaker to Belmont Abbey, 22-25, 28-26, 21-25, 25-14, 11-15, in Conference Carolinas play Wednesday night at Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.
The Crusaders (4-8, 3-1 CC) had a quartet of players with eight kills or more, led by Coreen Norwood with 14. The Bobcats (4-7, 2-1) produced 16 block assists and had 12 service aces.
Parsons (Jenks, Okla.) turned in a stellar performance while setting a season-high in digs and assists and matched a season-high in aces with four.
BAC used an 8-1 run in the first set to climb out of a 9-8 deficit.
Junior Madison Martin (Goldsboro, N.C.) delivered an ace before a Leonard (Wallburg, N.C.) kill cut the deficit to two, 24-22.
Norwood concluded the set with a kill.
The second set was a see-saw battle that LMC would eventually take.
The Bobcats staved off set point when Avalon Liscio (Naples, Fla.) used a kill to tie it at 24.
The senior turned in 10 kills and a trio of block assists.
Junior Madigan Gonzales (Ruidoso, N.M.) and freshman Logan Slusher (Hayes, Va.) turned in consecutive kills to break a 26-all tie.
Slusher finished with nine kills while Gonzales had eight.
Both offenses caught fire in the third while BAC swung at a .412 mark and LMC went for .262.
Coach William Tatge's club produced a 10-1 run midway through the fourth to take a 22-13 lead and never looked back.
The Crusaders took advantage of a quick 4-0 spurt in the fifth to grab a 7-3 lead.
LMC cut the deficit to two, 11-9, but was unable to complete the rally.
Junior Courtney Weathersbee (Raleigh, N.C.) led all players with 26 assists.
The Bobcats welcome Virginia Union Saturday, Sep. 24 at 2 p.m. for a Throw Back game in Williams Gym.