NEWBERRY - The Newberry Wolves volleyball team posted their first conference win at home Friday night as they defeated Lincoln Memorial in a back and forth affair in Eleazer Arena.

The pivotal third set turned a good match into a thriller as the teams were tied 1-1. The Wolves jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead and looked like they might cruise from there, but the Lady Railsplitters did not lay down and clawed their way steadily back, eventually going on a 3-0 run to tie the set at 16. Lincoln Memorial then won the next three points to take a three point lead and it appeared that they had seized the momentum; however, Newberry would not go away easily. Down 24-22 and facing set point, consecutive kills by Kylee Kanealey and Toni-Anne Whitlow tied the match at 24. The teams see-sawed back and forth before a Taylor Garrison kill and an Angela Gore service ace closed out the set and gave the Wolves a 2-1 lead.

The match began with neither team able to gain much traction, with the Wolves and Lady Railsplitters deadlocked at six apiece. A quick 5-0 run by Lincoln Memorial gave them the momentum, as Newberry would get no closer than three points for the remainder of the set. With the Lady Railsplitters leading 23-18, a service error and a block assist gave Lincoln Memorial the early lead at 1-0.

As has been the case for much of the season, Newberry would battle back in the second set. The Wolves won the first four points to jump out to a quick lead and stretched their lead to 9-2 early in the set. Newberry continued to apply pressure and got the lead up to 19-10 before eventually closing out the set 25-18 and evening up the score at one.

After the huge third set gave the Wolves all the momentum they could have ever wanted, it looked like they would easily capitalize as they jumped out to a 6-2 lead early in the set. Once again the Lady Railsplitters refused to fold as the match was in the balance, going on a 6-0 run midway through the set to take a 12-11 lead. Newberry won the next point to tie the set up at 12, but Lincoln Memorial went on another big 6-0 run that pushed their lead to 18-12 and forced the Wolves to take a timeout. From there the Lady Railsplitters cruised, eventually taking the set 25-16 on another Newberry service error.

By the fifth set, everyone in the crowd was on the edge of their seats as this was the set that would determine if the Wolves got their first conference win of the season or not. Lincoln Memorial seemed took the early edge at 6-3 and there was palpable tension throughout the arena. The Wolves then took a timeout and seized some momentum coming out, winning the next three points to tie the set at six. After the Lady Railsplitters won the next two points to take an 9-6 lead, the Wolves went on a 5-1 run to seize an 11-9 lead and then won four of the next points to hammer down the match, with the final point coming on a Taylor Garrison ace.

Toni-Anne Whitlow was the offensive star of the night for the Wolves as she put down a season-high 20 kills, punctuating several huge points throughout. She was joined in double figures by Angela Gore, who tied her career-high with 16 kills, and Zoe Dinkins, who added 11, many of them powerful and right down the middle. Dinkins also had a team-leading five blocks on the night.

Gore also had an excellent night defensively as she had 15 digs to post her first double-double of the young season. She also added three blocks and a service ace, one of a program-record 10 for Newberry on the night. Katie Ullsperger and Morgan Walter were also excellent defensively with 19 and 15 digs, respectively, with several of those bailing the Wolves out of a tough situation. 

Setter Taylor Garrison continued to climb the Newberry all-time assists lists and set her season high with 47, adding in a team-high three service aces for good measure.  Kylee Kanealey was also a strong contributor with three aces of her own, adding four blocks at the net as she continued to make her presence felt.

The Wolves will look to continue their positive momentum at home tomorrow at 2 pm as they will take on Carson-Newman.