SALISBURY, N.C. - Newberry fell just short in its furious rally attempt losing 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 12-25, 26-28, 15-12) to Catawba on Friday evening. The loss snaps a four-match winning streak for the Wolves. A win would have locked up the sixth seed in the South Atlantic Conference tournament.

The Wolves (15-13, 7-10 SAC) got a career day out of Blair Browning (New Lexington, Ohio) who had a season-high 62 assists which helped lead to Lauren Prachar's second match with 20 or more kills this season. The freshman finished with 21.

Newberry dropped the first two sets but staged a furious comeback winning sets three and four before falling in the final set. The Wolves held a 10-9 lead in set five before Catawba rattled off five consecutive points to take a 14-10 lead. Newberry scored the next two points on blocks but Catawba's setter put the final point away.

The fourth set was tightly contested. Newberry was able to get some separation when it rattled off four consecutive points to take a 20-16 lead. Prachar (Fort Wayne, Ind.) had two kills during the run while Browning and Jessica King (Los Angeles, Calif.) had the others. However, Catawba showed why they're 13-4 in the SAC by coming back to knot the game at 23. An Indians service error gave the Wolves set point but Shay Meeks put a ball away to tie the set at 24. Newberry fought off another set point on a service error before kills by King and Prachar gave the Wolves the set.

Newberry jumped out in the third set scoring the first four points with the help of its Indiana natives. Samantha Parrish (Angola, Ind.), Prachar and Madison Schultz (Decatur, Ind.) all put away balls during the run. The Wolves kept the pressure on Catawba for the remainder of the set and were aided by the Indians' sloppy play. They committed nine attacking errors and a service error in set three.

Newberry fell down 7-3 early in set two but two aces via Lindsey Hollingsworth (Charleston, S.C.) sandwiched in between kills by Prachar and King evened the score at 7. The remainder of the set was almost point for point, but Catawba continued to hold off the Wolves which never led at any point in the set.

Newberry got five kills in the first set from Parrish and Prachar but could not get over the hump. The last of Parrish's five kills put the Wolves within 22-21 but Catawba rattled off three consecutive points to take the set.

Parrish finished with 16 kills while King added 14. Elayni Stokes (Houston, Texas) had 22 digs while Prachar added 19 for a double-double. Browning's 15 digs gave her a double-double.

Newberry returns to action tomorrow evening at Wingate (5 p.m.). Live stats will be available through Wingate's athletic site.

Newberry Match Notes

*With a win tomorrow, Newberry will be seeded sixth in the SAC tournament. With a loss, it will finish seventh.
*The Wolves will play either Catawba or Lincoln Memorial in the quarterfinal round of the SAC tournament.
*Hollingsworth's 12 digs put her 15 away from the Newberry single season record.
*Wingate has won 81 consecutive SAC games.