At the beginning of the 2008 season, the Mars Hill volleyball team was young and inexperienced, but a core group of talent developed along the way that will benefit the program in future years.

Anderson Tournament
The Lions' volleyball team won their season opener with a three-game sweep (25-8, 25-16, 25-23) of Coker College in the first round of the Anderson University Tournament.

Jenna Luke (Mishawaka, Ind.) led MHC to the win recording 13 kills and 12 digs. Evie Tafunai (Edwardsburg, Mich.) followed with seven kills, two blocks and the same number of service aces. Jessica Britt (Chesapeake, VA) supplied the Lions’ offense with 35 assists.

The Lions' volleyball team moved to 2-0 after defeating Claflin in three games (25-13, 25-11, 25-15) in the second round of the Anderson University Tournament. The Lions then fell to USC Aiken in their final contest of the event (25-10, 25-21, 25-21) to suffer their first loss.

In the two matches, Traci Teague (Ramseur, N.C.) led MHC with 19 kills. Kelly Koziel (New Carlisle, Ind.) and Lindsay Phillips (Rosman, N.C.) led the Lions' defense with 14 and 12 digs, respectively. Jessica Britt (Chesapeake, Va.) provided the offense with 47 assists on the day.

Montreat
The Lions' volleyball team won their home opener by defeating Montreat College in five games. MHC improved to 3-1 on the season.

After winning the first game, 25-18, MHC lost the next two frames by scores of 25-23 and 20-25. The Lions regrouped and pulled off a 25-20 win in the fourth game before sealing the victory in the final stanza, 15-11.

Jenna Luke (Mishawaka, Ind.) led MHC with 16 kills followed by Evie Tafunai (Edwardsburg, MI) and Traci Teague (Ramseur, N.C.) with 12 kills apiece. Jessica Britt (Chesapeake, Va.) supplied the hitters with 59 assists while Kelly Koziel (New Carlisle, Ind.) led the Lions' defense with 27 digs.

Barton
After dropping a match against Anderson, Mars Hill defeated Barton College in three games on the second day of the Tusculum Tournament. The Lions defeated the Bulldogs by scores of 26-24, 25-15 and 25-20. Win the win Mars Hill ran its record to 4-2.

Evie Tafunai (Edwardsburg, Mich.) netted 12 kills and nine digs. Lindsay Phillips (Rosman, N.C.) hauled in 15 digs. Jessica Britt (Chesapeake, Va.) registered 28 assists.

North Greenville
After losing five straight matches, the MHC Lions' volleyball team held off the North Greenville Crusaders in five games. MHC improved to 5-7.

MHC started the match strong and held a 19-11 lead. NGU cut the lead to two at 23-21 before MHC sealed the 25-21 first game victory on a spike from Jenna Luke (Mishawaka, Ind.).

In the second game, the Lions raced out to an 8-3 advantage. NGU rallied to take the lead 10-9. The Crusaders went ahead 16-12 and eventually won the game on a block by Kaitlyn Pierce (Winston-Salem, N.C.).

MHC took the lead 8-7 early in the third game off a thunderous spike by Doneisha Gartica (Houston, Texas). NGU again rallied and the teams traded points back and forth. A spike by Evie Tafunai (Edwardsburg, Mich.) tied the game at 13 apiece and again at point 16. The Lions tied the score at point 22 before the Crusaders scored a 28-26 win in the third set.

The Lions took command in the fourth game and pushed the lead to seven points at 15-8 off a return by Danielle Mason (Westerville, Ohio). A monstrous spike by Tiphanee Vegh (Mishawaka, Ind.) gave MHC a 17-12 lead and the Lions cruised to a 25-18 fourth set victory.

Two Crusaders' mishandles off services by Brittany Enloe (Bat Cave, N.C.) put the Lions in control in the final stanza by a score of 3-1. The Lions dominated the final game and rolled to a 15-5 victory to seal the match.

Tafunai led MHC's offense with 18 kills. Kelly Koziel (New Carlisle, Ind.) led the Lions' defense with 27 digs. Jessica Britt (Chesapeake, Va.) totaled 42 assists.

Lenoir-Rhyne
The Mars Hill College volleyball team (6-7, 1-4 SAC) picked up its second consecutive and first South Atlantic Conference win of the season as it edged Lenoir-Rhyne University by a 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 25-15, 17-25, 15-8) margin.

The Lions were led by Evie Tafunai (Edwardsburg, Mich.) as she tallied a double-double (15 kills and 12 digs) while Traci Teague (Ramseur, N.C.) recorded nine kills, seven service aces and seven blocks.

Mars Hill’s Jessica Britt (Chesapeake,Va.) dished out 37 assists to go along with 12 digs as well.

Virginia Intermont
After dropping a match at Catawba, Mars Hill defeated Virginia Intermont in impressive inside Stanford Arena 25-12, 25-10 and 25-12. The Lions improved to 7-8.

Danielle Mason (Westerville, Ohio) starred offensively for MHC with 10 kills. Jessica Britt (Chesapeake, Va.) capped a strong defensive effort, posting a double-double with 14 assists and 10 digs.

The Lions recorded more kills than VIC, 31-16. MHC also posted more digs, 43-35, and more blocks, 7-0, than the Cobras.

North Greenville
After dropping seven consecutive matches, the Mars Hill volleyball team defeated the North Greenville Crusaders for the second time in 2008. The Lions won in four games by scores of 20-25, 25-18, 27-25 and 25-17. Mars Hill improved to 8-15.

Evie Tafunai (Edwardsburg, Mich.) posted a double-double with 16 kills and 13 digs. Jessica Britt (Chesapeake, Va.) also posted a double-double (12 digs, 31 assists.).

Jenna Luke (Mishawaka, Ind.) recorded 11 kills. Lindsay Phillips (Rosman, N.C.), with 22 digs, and Brittany Enloe (Bat Cave, N.C.), with 11 digs, were all defensive forces for the Lions. Sarah Paquette dished out 14 assists.

Mars Hill finished off the season 8-19 overall.

Postseason Accolades
Freshman Evie Tafunai (Edwardsburg, Mich.) was named to the 2008 SAC All-Freshman Team. Tafunai led Mars Hill this season in kills (273). She also tied for second on the team in digs (224).

Outlook for next season
A core nucleus will return for the Lions next season, spearheaded by all-conference performer Evie Tafunai and Jenna Luke. Other key returnees for Mars Hill in 2009 include Kelly Koziel (New Carlisle, Ind.), Danielle Mason (Westerville, Ohio), Traci Teague (Ramseur, N.C.) and Sarah Paquette (Swannanoa, N.C.).

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