Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Newberry, S.C. - The Newberry College Wolves were defeated by the Mocs of Florida Southern College in a thrilling five-set match before rebounding with a sweep of the Marauders of the University of Mary (S.D.). 

Florida Southern:  

The Wolves started off their first match of the day strong, utilizing an early 13-2 run that included three total blocks from Zoe Dinkins to push their lead to 15-5 in the first set. However, after extending the lead to as many as 13 points, the Wolves would have to fend off a late 10-1 rally from the Mocs before eventually closing out the set 25-19. 

The Mocs would take some of that momentum into the second set, and they quickly established just how competitive the match would be, tying the match 1-1 after claiming the second set 25-13. 

Both teams would go back-and-forth throughout the remainder of the match. As one team gained momentum, the other quickly levelled the playing field. Florida Southern appeared to be pulling away late in the third set before back-to-back kills from freshman Anna Hapner evened the score at 21-21. However, despite a gutsy effort, the Wolves would drop the third set by a score of 25-23. 

The fourth set played out in a similar manner to the third, but this time, it was the Wolves pushing out in front with the Mocs constantly chasing them. The Wolves would once again have to fend off a feisty Florida Southern rally that would result in a tied score of 25-25, but a Margaret McMahon kill followed by an attack error from the Mocs would hand Newberry the set 27-25, sending the match into a decisive fifth set. 

The fifth set was perhaps the most competitive of all with neither team amassing a lead greater than three points. The Mocs would eventually claim a 13-9 lead, but the Wolves would not go down so easily, rallying back to push the match to as close as it can get with a 15-15 tie in the final set.  However, despite a valiant effort, the Wolves would fall in the final set 17-15, losing the match 3-2. 

Despite the loss, Avery Webb earned a double-double with 46 assists and 11 digs. Elizabeth Ober led the team in kills with 13, and Dinkins had 11 kills of her own as well as 9 total blocks. Amanda Berecz earned 23 digs and 4 service aces. 

Mary: 

The Wolves would bounce back with a sweep of Mary, but the match was far more competitive than that score would indicate. 

The first set would see the score tied on 12 different occasions. Both teams inched their way to a 24-24 tie before Dinkins put the set away with back-to-back kills. 

The Wolves would pull away midway through the second set, utilizing an 8-1 run to claim a lead of 18-12. However, the Marauders would rally back with a 7-0 run of their own to tie the set at 21-21. However, a few Marauder miscues would hand Newberry the set 25-23. 

The third set would see the Marauders jump out to an early 4-1 lead, but the Wolves would then go on a 4-0 run of their own that featured back-to-back Ober kills. The Marauders would start to pull away again, taking a five-point advantage, but the Wolves would rally again, this time claiming a 20-17 lead that was capped off with two straight service aces from Taylor Hall. Newberry would carry that momentum to take the set 25-22 and the match 3-0. 

Webb would post another double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs. Natasha Bannister led the attack with 12 kills while Berecz had a strong impact defensively with 32 digs. 

The Wolves will take a 2-2 overall record into day two of the Rollins Invitational on Saturday where they will face the Georgia College Bobcats at 3 p.m. before concluding the tournament with a match against the hosts, the Rollins College Tars, at 5 p.m.