GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - The Newberry College volleyball team staged a valiant comeback that fell just short Friday night, as the Lady Indians fell in five games (28-30, 30-19, 30-20, 28-30, 16-14) to Tusculum College in South Atlantic Conference action.

Newberry (10-3, 2-3 SAC) was paced by a 19-kill night from Priscila Sales (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) and an 11-kill, 19-dig double-double from Fernanda Frey (Sao Paulo, Brazil).

Senior middles Laurie Barman (Madison, Wisc.) and Cara Coleman (Allentown, Pa.) also tallied double-digit kills with 13 and 11 respectively. Barman was also the team's leading blocker with one solo block and six block assists.

Kilee Ruppe (Spartanburg, S.C.) dished out 55 assists, while Nadia Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the team with 24 digs.

Tusculum (15-7, 4-1 SAC) used a well-rounded effort, as the Pioneers totaled 27.5 team blocks to go with a .339 team hitting percentage to pull out the close win. Defending SAC Player of the Week Vivian Lacy had a double-double with 30 kills and 15 digs to lead the hosts.

Tusculum jumped out to a 21-16 advantage in game one, only to see Newberry rally and capture the opening frame 30-28. In the second game, Tusculum jumped out to a 5-0 lead, all on Rezende's serve en route to a 30-19 win.
 
Tusculum also used a 10-3 spurt in the third frame as the Pioneers jumped out to a 2-1 advantage in the match. TC looked to be heading for a win in the fourth game, but the Lady Indians fought back and scored the final four points to post a 30-28 decision and square the match.
 
TC vaulted to a 5-0 lead in the final frame, including a pair of aces by Luebke. But Newberry wouldn't go away as the Lady Indians would later trim the deficit to 12-0. Tusculum added two points, including a kill by Lacy to jump up 14-11. The Lady Indians fought off three match points and got back-to-back kills by Sales to tie the game at 14-14. TC would score the final two points, including Lacy's 30th kill as the Pioneers prevailed.

The Lady Indians wrap up a two-match SAC swing through Tennessee on Saturday, as they visit the Lady Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial University. The match is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Mary Mars Gym in Harrogate, Tenn.