LEXINGTON, Va. — Sophomore middle blocker Mackenzie Shand (Saline, Mich./Saline) totaled a career-high 16 kills to lead the Washington and Lee volleyball team to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Lynchburg at the Warner Center on Wednesday.

Shand registered the team-high 16 kills on just 22 attempts, while committing one error, for a .682 hitting percentage. She also had three blocks. Shand's previous career-high was 14 kills.

The Hornets (6-7, 0-1 ODAC) came out aggressive and won the first set, 25-21. W&L (11-1, 1-0 ODAC) and Lynchburg were tied 6-6 in the second, when first-year outside hitter Mary Silliman (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Prep) served six straight points for W&L, including one ace. The run gave the Blue and White the momentum to take the set, 25-14.

Lynchburg bounced back in the third, and took a 2-1 match lead with a 25-20 victory. The Generals scored 14 of the first 21 points in the fourth on its way to claiming the set, 25-16, to push the match to a deciding fifth set.

The Hornets looked to have control in the fifth, as they jumped out to a 7-4 lead, but W&L won 11 of the next 13 points to win the set, 15-9, and the match, 3-2.

Junior setter Alex Kinzer (Greenville, S.C./Eastside) was all over the court for W&L with 40 assists, four kills, four digs and three blocks. Junior outside hitters Anna Lausberg (Ocoee, Fla./Bishop Moore Catholic) and Kasey Cannon (North Wales, Pa./Mt. St. Joseph Academy) each notched 11 kills and Cannon added 11 digs.

Junior right side Maddie Kosar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Gilmour Academy) recorded a match-high four aces and had four digs. Senior defensive specialist Kelly McManus (Osprey, Fla./Pine View) tallied a match-high 21 digs. It marked the third time this season she has had at least 20 digs in a contest.

Senior middle hitter Aricquel Payne (Woodbridge, Va./Osbourn Park) registered a match-high 18 kills on 40 attempts for Lynchburg. First-year setter Lynn Walsh (Columbia, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) totaled 32 assists and five digs, while senior defensive specialist Brittany Crawford (Afton, Va./Nelson County) had a team-high 16 digs. 

The Generals have now won 10 straight matches since losing to nationally-ranked Christopher Newport on August 29. W&L returns to the court on Friday when it hosts Eastern Mennonite at 6:30 pm.

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