YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Young Harris Volleyball prevailed over Chowan 3-2 in a five set thriller at home on Saturday afternoon. The Mountain Lions made program history picking up weekend series home wins for the first time. Nicole Klucharich led the Mountain Lions with 16 kills. Lyza Thigpen had 39 assists and Joha Bernis recorded 35 digs.

QUOTING HEAD COACH JENNY MICHAEL:
"Proud of the team for battling to make program history securing two home wins this weekend. We certainly didn't make it easy, but we showed grit and got it done. Love this team, regardless of outcomes, but happy for them that they were able to make a mark in our young history."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Young Harris battled back-and-forth in the first set. Abby Schirm recorded a kill and Lyza Thigpen registered the service ace to put YHC ahead 11-7. The Mountain Lions scored the next four points to extend their lead. Chowan closed the gap late, getting within three 23-20. Klucharich registered two kills to claim the set victory, 25-21.

YHC took their momentum into the second set, taking an early 9-5 advantage. Chowan fought hard and tied it at 17, but never led in the frame after the opening four points. Kathryn Urbanek, Thigpen, and Schirm dominated the last five points to put the Mountain Lions up 2-0. Thigpen had a service ace, Urbanek contributed two kills, and Schirm tallied a point. YHC won the second set 25-20.

The Hawks took set three 25-20 to stave off the sweep. A combination of Anna Holcombe's offense and errors from Young Harris led to the set victory. Chowan's Alexa Wasil swung on one that found the hardwood for set point.

The Fourth set was all Chowan. The Hawks scored the first nine points of the set and weathered the comeback attempt, winning set four 25-18.

Young Harris bounced back in the decisive fifth set. Schirm came up with two big swings for the Mountain Lions to extend their lead to three, 7-4. Points from Klucharich and Rylie Springer got YHC to 10. Shelby Mullins' late kill brought up match point. The Hawks didn't go away and fought back within a point, 14-13. Thigpen set it to Mullins, who mashed it home for the point and the match.
 
NOTABLE STATS:

• Nicole Klucharich tallied 16 kills, Shelby Mullins put up 13, and Abby Schirm had 11.
• Chowan's Alexa Wasil recorded 25 kills in the match.
•  Lyza Thigpen had a game-high 39 assists
• Kathryn Urbanek continued her great defense from last night (6 blocks) accounting for four blocks today.
• Joha Bernis (35), Lyza Thigpen (15), and Lexie Martin (11) combined for 61 digs.

UP NEXT:
Young Harris kicks off a four-game road stint at Southern Wesleyan next Friday at 6:00 p.m.
  Read Full Article