The Lincoln University volleyball team snapped an eight-game losing streak with a straight-set non-conference win over Salem, 25-23, 25-19, 25-18, Saturday inside Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.
Lincoln improves to 5-15 overall. The five wins are the most victories in a season since the seven-win 2016 season.
Things were tight in the first set, but Lincoln held a late five-point advantage (20-15). Salem fought back with six of the next seven to pull even. Lincoln reclaimed the lead with a pair of points, but the Wildcats answered with two points of their own. The Lions got back-to-back kills from freshman
Laila Newborn (Ardmore, Pa./Lower Merion) and junior
Erica Taylor (Romulus, MI/Romulus Summit Academy) to seal the first-set win.
Salem appeared to have settled in and taken control of the second set with a 16-10 lead.
However, with Taylor serving, the Lions racked up 11 consecutive points to transform a six-point deficit into a five-point lead. Salem temporarily stemmed the tide with three straight points, then LU capped the set with four straight of its own.
Lincoln was never really challenged in the third set, opening up a 10-point lead following an 8-1 spurt midway through the set. The Wildcats put together a mini spurt, but not enough to threaten and LU completed the 25-18 win.
Newborn had one of the best games in her young career with a career-high 10 kills on 16 attempts and just one error (.563 hitting percentage). Taylor added a team-high 11 kills on 19 attempts and six errors (.263 hitting percentage), while sophomore
Haley Loper (Middletown, Del./St. Georges Technical) added nine kills.
Taylor added six service aces as Lincoln finished with 12 aces in the match.
Freshman
Janaa Smith (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) and sophomore
Jaida Lumpkin (Middletown, Del./Middletown) combined for 31 assists with 16 and 15, respectively. Sophomore
Mariah Webster (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech/) led the team with 13 digs.
The Lions return to CIAA action, traveling to Virginia Union 6 p.m. Monday.
