A pair of former Polk County standouts delivered notable performances as the college fall sports season got underway this weekend.
Yoder ties Mars Hill hitting record
After missing last season with an injury, Morgan Yoder wasted little time making an impact in her return to the court for Mars Hill.
Yoder tied the Lions’ single-match record for hitting percentage Saturday, recording 12 kills on 15 attempts without an error in a 3-0 win over Fort Valley State at the Lions Den Invitational in Franklin Springs, Ga.
Her .800 hitting percentage matched the school record set by Traci Teague against North Greenville on Sept. 4, 2009.
The performance capped a remarkable three-match stretch in which Yoder did not commit an attack error.
She opened the season Friday with five kills on 17 attempts, hitting .294 in a loss to Mount Olive. Yoder then had eight kills and hit .727 as Mars Hill defeated Augusta in four sets.
Saturday’s record-tying performance helped the Lions sweep Fort Valley State before Mars Hill rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat host Emmanuel in five sets later in the day. The two victories left the Lions at 3-1.
Mars Hill returns to action Friday in Huntsville, Ala., with matches against Spring Hill and Trevecca Nazarene.
Weaver helps Lenoir-Rhyne roll past ranked opponent
Angus Weaver led Lenoir-Rhyne in tackles Friday as the Bears opened their season with a 45-3 rout of No. 14 Virginia Union at Moretz Stadium.
Weaver finished with five tackles for an L-R defense that dominated throughout the evening. Virginia Union managed just 183 yards of total offense, including 26 rushing yards, and failed on all 10 of its combined third- and fourth-down conversion attempts.
Weaver’s night included a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Lenoir-Rhyne led 31-0 at halftime and finished with 505 yards of offense in what the school noted was the largest victory over a ranked opponent in program history.
The Bears will remain home Saturday to face West Alabama at 3 p.m.
