GREENWOOD, S.C. � It was the tale of two Jessicas Friday night as Jessica Lipsi brought down 11 kills and Jessica Lopez served up three aces in Newberry�s dramatic come from behind 3-2 victory over Converse College at the Bearcat Blitz, hosted by Lander. Game scores were 19-30, 22-30, 30-28, 30-28 and 15-12.

Newberry (1-1) once again got off to a slow start, adjusting to new techniques brought by first year head coach and Brazilian native Dr. Gylton Da Matta, but was able to pull it out in the end, despite being outhit .116 to .010, outserved (16 Converse aces to Newberry�s seven), outdug (107-101) and outblocked (12-10). Senior Katie Stone led the defensive effort for Newberry with 25 digs in a match that saw six Indians record double digit digs.

�We started off slow again tonight as we are adjusting to some new things, but our girls never gave up,� said Dr. Da Matta. �Tonight�s match was all about heart and who wanted it more and we just wouldn�t give up. I�m very proud of the way they stuck in there and kept working hard, even when things didn�t go their way.�

The first game started out a little rough for the Indians as Converse jumped out to a 20-7 lead. However, Converse didn�t have a waltz through the first bout as Newberry fought back and pulled within nine at one point (27-18), but it was too little too late as Converse took the first game 30-19.

Game two seemed to improve for Newberry as the Indians, despite always trailing, kept the score close until the end. Lipsi�s three kills helped spark some offense for the Scarlet and Gray in the game but Converse�s seven service aces helped keep the All-Stars shining. Converse doubled up on Newberry�s kill total in the second game, topping the Indians 16-8 in that category.

The Indian offense sparked some in game three, bringing home 14 kills and the Converse serving began to fell apart as the All-Stars served up six errors and only notching one ace in the game. Despite falling behind early, Newberry fought back throughout and forced 11 tie scores and six lead changes, finally pulling ahead at the 28-27 mark as Lipsi made an unassisted kill. An attack error by either team but Newberry up 29-28 and Katie Stone sent the match to a fourth game with a strong kill as she was assisted by Lopez.

The Indian offensive effort waned some in game four but the determination did not as Newberry took the game 30-28 despite hitting -.035 to Converse�s .048. Stone and Lipsi led Newberry with three kills each while Lopez and Cara Coleman served up two aces. The Converse serving corps still struggled in game four with five service errors sent Newberry�s way. Neither team held a lead of more than three points throughout the entire game.

Newberry fell behind 10-7 in game five but a Monica Wallace service error sparked a 5-1 run for the Indians. Newberry closed out the win after forcing two consecutive attack errors by Converse as the Indians brought home their first win of the season.

Newberry wraps up the Bearcat Blitz on Saturday, facing Limestone at Noon in Horne Arena and squaring off against the host Lander Bearcats at 4 p.m. Live stats will be available for both matches on www.newberryindians.com.

                            Short Box Score (Match)
                        2005 Newberry Indian Volleyball
    Converse All-Stars vs Newberry Indians (Aug 26, 2005 at Greenwood, S.C.)

  Newberry Indians def. Converse All-Stars 19-30,22-30,30-28,30-28,15-12

  Converse All-Stars (0-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Leslie Shain 14-3-0;
  Monica Wallace 14-3-3; Michelle Sloan 14-2-5; Lauren Miller 10-2-9;
  Sarah Joydan-Inalloo 7-0-3; Audrey Jaccard 1-4-0; Brittany Ogez 1-0-1;
  Baye Williamson 0-2-0; Totals 61-16-12.0. (Assists) - Audrey Jaccard
  39. (Dig leaders) - Michelle Sloan 23; Baye Williamson 21; Monica
  Wallace 18; Audrey Jaccard 18; Leslie Shain 16

  Newberry Indians (1-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Jessica Lipsi 11-1-1;
  Katie Stone 8-0-2; Jamie Foster-Mann 8-0-4; Kristin Pulone 7-1-5; Cara
  Coleman 3-1-4; Jessica Lopez 2-3-3; Tonya Deese 1-0-0; Alicia Khoury
  0-1-0; Totals 40-7-10.0. (Assists) - Jessica Lopez 19; Alicia Khoury
  10. (Dig leaders) - Katie Stone 25; Alicia Khoury 17; Jessica Lipsi
  17; Kristin Pulone 15; Cara Coleman 11; Jessica Lopez 10

  Site: Greenwood, S.C. (Horne Arena)
  Date: Aug 26, 2005   Attend: 49   Time: 2:11   
  Referees: Doug Fagan, David Coulson