Volleyball Suffers Another 5-Set Defeat

NEWBERRY, NC -- Catawba suffered its second straight five-set loss in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action, falling to host Newberry on Saturday afternoon at Eleazer Arena.  The Wolves improved to 9-9 overall and 3-5 in the SAC with the 25-18, 25-21, 15-25, 19-25, 15-13 victory.  Catawba Indians fell to 6-8 and 3-3.

Catawba battled back from two sets down to force the final set, but a five-point run early in the final set provided Newberry with a 7-4 edge it would never give up.  The Wolves took a 14-11 lead on a kill by Jessica King then saw the Lady Indians fight off two match points on kills from Alli Parrish (Zebulon, NC/Smithfield-Selma HS) and Carson Brewer (Raleigh, NC/Middle Creek HS/Cape Fear CC).  After a timeout, Lauren Prachar killed off the final point for Newberry.

Newberry led 7-1 in set one before Catawba rallied to within 14-13 on a kill from Jordan Raye (Boonville, NC/Starmount HS).  The Wolves regrouped with a five-point spurt to go up 20-14 and took the set.  The Wolves pulled away from a 13-13 tie to take set two.

The Lady Indians used a 10-4 run that was capped on an ace by Jenny Young (Roanoke, VA/Henry HS) to grab a19-10 lead in set three.  Raye killed off the final point.  A combo block from Whitmer and Ashley Brown (Hendersonville, NC/N. Henderson HS) sparked an 8-3 run in the fourth set to give Catawba a 24-16 lead and forcing the fifth set.

Whitmer led Catawba with 24 kills, while Raye recorded a triple-double with 12 kills, 14 digs and 49 assists.  Rachel Gallup (Fredericksburg, VA/Courtland HS) added 17 kills.  Prachar posted 21 kills to pace Newberry.  Blair Browning handed out 50 assists.

Catawba returns home to Goodman Gym on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. match with Wingate.