SALISBURY, N.C. - Newberry College picked up a five-game win over host Catawba in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action on Friday night at Goodman Gym. Newberry won by the scores of 16-30, 30-27, 31-29, 22-30 and 15-12 to improve to 12-5 overall and 3-5 in the SAC. Catawba falls to 21-5 and 6-4.

Catawba pulled out to a 13-8 in the opening game and went up 20-13 following an ace by Nikki Bozick (Boca Raton, Fla.). Melissa Powers (Bennett, N.C.) had three aces down the stretch in the win.

Newberry rallied in game two, pulling away late from a 22-22 tie. Lorena Maia (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) had two kills in a spurt that gave the visitors a 27-23 lead. Catawba pulled within 29-27, but Priscila Sales (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) killed off the final point.

Newberry would fight back from several deficits to win the third game. Newberry trailed 16-12, but used three Catawba attack errors and a kill by Sales for a 17-16 lead. Catawba led late at 28-24, but a kill by Sales and an ace by Maia helped pull Newberry within 28-27. Down 29-27, Newberry got a kill from Brianna Blakely (Houston, Texas), two Catawba attack errors and an ace by Christy Stegall (Fort Mill, S.C.) for the win.

Catawba battled back in the fourth game. Tied at 19-19, Catawba scored five straight points on three kills by Mai Zoua Lo (Hickory, N.C.) and two by Powers to take control. Melissa Griffith (Williamsburg, Va.) had two kills and Powers added an ace down the stretch to help force the final game.

Newberry rolled out to an 11-3 lead in the deciding game. Maia had four kills in the 10-1 run. Catawba would battle back and two kills by Lo and a block by Jasmine Chunn (Yadkinville, N.C.) had Catawba within 13-11, but the freshman duo of Kara Harris (Grandview, Texas) and Blakely had kills to finish off the match.

Sales led Newberry with 18 kills, while Maia added 16 kills and 10 digs. Fernanda Frey (Sai Paulo, Brazil) had 14 kills, 14 digs and three blocks.

Powers led Catawba with 26 kills and three blocks. Lo added 22 kills and 18 digs, while setter Andi Henderson (Swansboro, N.C.) had 62 assists and 13 digs.

Newberry takes on Lenoir-Rhyne College in a key South Atlantic Conference match on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Hickory, N.C.
Special thanks to Jim Lewis and Catawba College Sports Information for this article