The Newberry College Lady Indian volleyball team secured the first victory of the 2006 campaign at the Lees McRae Volleyball Tournament this past weekend in Banner Elk, N.C. 

The Lady Indians defeated Fairmont State University (0-4) in four games (24-30, 30-20, 30-21, 30-12) on Saturday.  After being edged out by St. Andrews Presbyterian College in five games (25-30, 30-26, 29-31, 30-28, 15-9) to kick off the tournament, Newberry got off to a slow start in their second match against the Lady Falcons.  Dropping the first game by just six points, the Lady Indians notched up three straight games and wrapped up the win.

Four Newberry players racked up double digit kills, including a team high 18 from freshman Lorena Maia.  Junior Laurie Barman was second with 14 kills and added in four service aces and three solo blocks. 

Freshman Kilee Ruppe chipped in with 35 assists and four digs.  Senior Jessica Lipsi and junior Cara Coleman combined for 61 total attacks with 22 kills contributing to the team effort.

Newberry had difficulty carrying the momentum from Saturday afternoon�s win to Sunday when the Lady Indians met host, Lees McCrae College.  The Bobcats took the match in three games (30-27, 30-20, 30-26).

With the final game against Francis Marion University (7-2), the Lady Indians would not go down quietly.  The Newberry squad jumped out to a two games to one lead (30-19, 21-30, 26-30) before dropping the last two 30-18 and 15-11.

Maia and Barman once again led the scarlet and gray with 15 kills each.  Coleman racked up 14 kills and 3 solo blocks in a losing effort and senior Jessica Lopez and freshman Kilee Ruppe combined for 47 assists in the final match of the tournament.

The Lady Indians return to Newberry tonight to face the Presbyterian Blue Hose in the first South Atlantic Conference match of the year for both teams.  The Blue Hose travel to Newberry with a 5-2 overall record after winning two of three games in the Azalea City Classic in Valdosta, Ga. 

The match between the Lady Indians and the Blue Hose begins at 7 p.m. at Eleazer Arena.