Mariah Russell (St Louis Mo./Maplewood Richmond Heights) recorded a double double to lead the Lincoln University women's volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Cheyney University Tuesday night in a "Battle of the First" match at Manuel Rivero Hall.

The Lions complete a season sweep of the Wolves with the win, having defeated Cheyney on their home court last week, 3-1.  Lincoln improves to 2-4 on the season.  The Wolves fall to 0-5 on the season.

Russell led all players with 15 kills and also recorded 12 digs on defense.  The senior outside hitter also led all players with eight service aces, narrowly missing a triple double.  Aubury Coleman (Mason City, Iowa/ Mason City) added 10 kills while Alisa Foster (Philadelphia, Pa./Science Leadership Acad.) recorded 24 assists setting the Lions offense.  Defensively, Tymera Crudup (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) had 11 digs and Foster added nine.  Tierra Russaw (Westland, Mich./Summit Academy) led the team with three blocks while Coleman added two.

Virshawna Campbell and Alaiya Cave each recorded double doubles for the Wolves.  Campbell had 12 kills and 10 digs while Cave notched ten kills and ten digs.

The Lions used an 8-2 run in the first set to break a 5-5 tie and take control of the match 13-7. Two aces from Russell later made it 18-10 before the Wolves ran off three straight points to close within five 18-13.  Following a Campbell attack error that made the score 19-13, the Lions served out the set with Coleman notching two straight kills to boost the lead to 21-13.  Janiyah Gillard (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) followed with two aces and a kill in her next four serves, with her final ace giving the Lions set point 25-13.

Russell recorded three aces during a 7-0 run by the Lions midway through the second set, breaking a 12-12 tie and giving Lincoln a 19-12 lead.  Cheyney countered with a 7-3 flourish to close within two 22-20 and later cut the gap to one 23-22 and again at 24-23 before a service error by CU's Laquana Speaks gave the Lions the win 25-23.

In the third set, the Wolves held a lead for the first time in the match at 12-11 and extended it to 16-12 before the Lions came back to take a 17-16 lead on a Coleman ace.  Cheyney rallied to tie the set at 19-19 and following a Lion attack error, Cave notched a kill to give the Wolves a 21-19 lead.  Three Lincoln errors in the final six rallies gave Cheyney the set at 25-21 and cut the Lions match lead to 2-1.

Cheyney appeared poised to send the match to a fifth set jumping out to an early 9-4 lead with a 6-0 run and increasing the margin to six points at 16-10 before the Lions began a comeback.  A Foster ace closed the gap to 16-13 and following a kill by Coleman, Lincoln embarked on a 5-1 run to retake the lead at 19-18 with Russell's eighth and final ace of the match providing the Lions with the lead.  Cheyney rallied to tie the set at 21-21 before relinquishing the serve on an attack error.  Crudup proceeded to record two straight aces to bring the game to match point at 24-21.  Campbell however broke the string with a kill before Russell ended the contest with her final kill of the night.

The Lions return to action on Thursday, September 21, 2017 when they host Virginia Union University.  Tipoff is at 6:00 p.m.