Volleyball Wins Five-Set Thriller Over Carson-Newman

SALISBURY, NC -- Catawba outlasted Carson-Newman in a thrilling five-set South Atlantic Conference volleyball match on Friday night at Goodman Gym.  The Catawba Indians won by the scores of 17-25, 26-24, 25-22, 21-25 and 22-20 to improve to 7-9 overall and 4-4 in the SAC.  The Eagles fall to 8-9 and 2-6.

Catawba seniors Kaitlyn Whitmer (Ferrum, VA/Franklin Co. HS), 23 kills and five blocks, and Carson Brewer (Raleigh, NC/Middle Creek HS/Cape Fear CC), 22 kills and five blocks, combined to help the Lady Indians snap a three-match losing streak.  Emily Richardson (Salem, VA/Salem HS) collected nine blocks, while freshman setter Kaytee Frabotta (Sterling Heights, MI/Henry Ford II HS) delivered 53 assists, 17 digs, four blocks and seven kills. 

Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, TN) led Carson-Newman with 24 kills, 11 digs and five blocks.  Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, CO) added 17 kills with Ashley Ferris (Knoxville, TN) collected nine kills and seven blocks.  Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, TN) handed out 58 assists and libero Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, TN) recorded 42 digs.

Catawba had five match points in the fifth set before Alli Parrish (Zebulon, NC/Smithfield-Selma HS) finally killed off the final point.  The Lady Indians led 14-12, but a Harper kills and an attack error tied the set and led to the dramatics.  Carson-Newman had four match points.

Carson-Newman got out of the gate quickly, hitting at 47% in the opening set.  The Eagles jumped out to a 10-3 lead and increased the margin to 22-11 on a kill from Sabina Papala (Laziska Gorne, POLAND).  Parrish staved off a Carson-Newman set point in the second with a kill then a block from Richardson and Rachel Gallup (Fredericksburg, VA) led to a Catawba set point which was converted on a C-N error.

Catawba held off the Eagles in set three winning three of the last four points, getting set point on a block from Parrish and Ashley Brown (Hendersonville, NC/N. Henderson HS).  The Lady Eagles evened the match as they won five of the last six points of set four.  Santarelli killed off the set point.

Catawba will host Lincoln Memorial on Saturday at 2 p.m. in its next match.

MATCH PHOTOS

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