NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Newberry College women's volleyball team returned to Eleazer Arena Friday evening for a South Atlantic Conference showdown against Wingate, battling the Bulldogs in a competitive four-set contest before ultimately falling 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 13-25, 19-25).
The Wolves showed resilience throughout the evening, bouncing back from a narrow opening-set defeat to even the match at one set apiece. However, Wingate found its rhythm in the final two frames to secure the conference victory.
Newberry came out ready to battle in the opening set, going toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs in a tightly contested frame. The Wolves registered 12 kills in the set and kept the pressure on Wingate, but the Bulldogs managed to edge Newberry by the slimmest of margins, 25-23, to take an early 1-0 advantage.
Unfazed by the opening-set setback, the Wolves responded with a gritty performance in the second. Both offenses struggled to find consistency, with Newberry recording nine kills and Wingate managing eight. Despite the offensive challenges, the Wolves capitalized on their opportunities and came away with a hard-fought 25-23 victory, evening the match at 1-1 heading into the third.
With momentum hanging in the balance, Wingate took control in the third set. The Bulldogs found success offensively, registering 12 kills while holding Newberry to just six. The Wolves struggled to establish an offensive rhythm, allowing Wingate to pull away for a 25-13 victory and regain the match lead.
Newberry refused to go quietly in the fourth, putting together its most efficient offensive set of the evening. The Wolves recorded 13 kills while hitting .225, their highest percentage of the match. However, Wingate answered with 14 kills of its own and a .282 hitting percentage, ultimately closing out the frame 25-19 to secure the 3-1 victory.
Anna Schneider led the Wolves offensively, finishing with a team-high 10 kills while adding 14 digs for a double-double performance. Evie Paalman and Symone Wyatt chipped in seven kills apiece, with Wyatt posting a team-best .217 hitting percentage among Newberry players with at least 20 attempts.
Defensively, Hailey Clayworth anchored the back row with a match-high 26 digs while adding two service aces. Schneider and Paalman each contributed 14 digs, giving Newberry three players with double-digit dig totals.
Carley Raleigh directed the Wolves' offense with a team-high 19 assists and added three service aces, while Lexi Duplissis dished out 14 assists. At the net, Carole Ann Hussey and D'Metria Jordan each recorded three block assists to help lead Newberry's defensive effort.
With the result, Newberry moved to 12-9 overall and 5-9 in South Atlantic Conference play.
Up Next: The Wolves will hit the road Tuesday, October 20, for a South Atlantic Conference matchup against Anderson (S.C.). First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Anderson, S.C.
