SALISBURY, N.C. - The Newberry Wolves volleyball team got off to a hot start Saturday afternoon on the road at Catawba, winning the first set and going ahead early in the second set. However, they were unable to capitalize on the early momentum and lost 3-1, dropping them to 4-11 (2-9 SAC) on the season.

As has often been the case this season, the second set of the match was by far the most pivotal. The Wolves took a 7-6 lead early on in the set and appeared poised to run away with not just the set, but the match. However, Catawba proceeded to run off five straight points to lead 11-7. Newberry would battle back as they usually do and tied the match at 15 apiece, but the Indians went on a 3-0 run and looked ready to close out the set and tie the match at 1-1. The Wolves again battled back to tie the set at 25, but Catawba won the next two points to take the set 27-25, tie the match at 1-1, and seize the momentum.

The first set was a tightly contested one as both teams battled to establish an early foothold. Neither team led by more than three points until Catawba took the lead at 20-16 and looked like they would cruise to the finish line. The Wolves then battled back to tie the match several times before Zoe Dinkins hammered down consecutive kills to win 26-24 and give Newberry the early 1-0 lead.

The third set started off poorly for the Wolves as Catawba won the first five points. They continued to dominate early, winning four of the next five points to take a commanding 9-1 lead. Although Newberry would battle back and get within six points on multiple occasions, the Indians cruised throughout and ended up winning 25-14. This gave them a 2-1 lead in the match and they continued the positive momentum into the fourth set.

Newberry battled hard in the fourth set, much the same as they did in the first two, but the Wolves were unable to pull away and get over the hump. About halfway through the set, the Indians began to pull away, taking a 15-11 lead. Although Newberry came back to tie the match multiple times, Catawba used a Wolves service error and a service ace to win the last two points and take the match 3-1.

The Wolves placed three players in double digits in kills, as Toni-Anne Whitlow led the team with 18. Zoe Dinkins had 13 of her own and Katie Ullsperger had 10. Ullsperger was also second on the team with eight digs, as Sydney Diaz posted 19, giving her 39 this weekend. Angela Gore led the team in blocks on the afternoon with five while Avery Webb led with 30 assists.

Newberry will be in action again Tuesday at home against Belmont Abbey.