MARYVILLE, Tenn – The Washington and Lee volleyball team split a pair of four-set games in day two of the Maryville Invitational against Johnson University (1-3) and Sewanee (3-1) on Saturday.

In Saturday's game one, the Generals started out slow against the Royals of Johnson University. The Royals took the first set 25-15 to take an early 1-0 lead but pushed the match to four.

A back and forth second set went the way of the Generals, 28-26, after junior outside hitter Sydney Heifner (Nashville, Teen. / Warpath Hill) scored two straight points. The Royals bounced back, however, taking the third set, 25-15. Johnson finished the game with 25-20 set-four victory to take the match 3-1.

Heifner and first year outside hitter, Lillie Holcomb (Greensboro, N.C. / Western Guilford), led the Generals with 13 kills a piece. Senior setter Ashley Webb (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Westlake) posted 19 assists and 11 digs in the match.

The Blue and White bounced back in game two against Sewanee with a 3-1 victory. Getting a lead early in the second match of the day, the Generals took set one 25-17. Sewanee answered back in set two, a 25-11 dominant performance and nine straight points and three service aces to jump out ahead. 

Needing to bounce back, Head Coach Bryan Snyder and the Generals got to action in sets three and four. The Generals jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in set three and didn't look back, taking the set 25-18.

A back and forth fourth set found the Generals behind 10-9 before going on a 9-0 run to take an 18-11 lead. The Generals held the lead to a 25-21 set win.

In the first victory of the season, the Blue and White were led by Heifner who posted 15 kills and 14 digs. Webb posted another high assist game with 21 assists and added seven digs.

The Generals will return to Lexington next weekend to host the W&L Invitational starting on Friday. They will take on Marymount (Va.) at 4:30 p.m. in their first match of the tournament weekend.

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