Catawba posts fifth-straight win with sweep of Newberry

NEWBERRY, SC -- Catawba closed its regular season with five straight wins after sweeping past host Newberry 25-18, 25-15 and 25-17 in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action on Saturday afternoon at Eleazer Arena. The Catawba Indians improve to 14-12 overall and 9-9 in the SAC, locking up the #5-seed for the upcoming league tournament. The Wolves fall to 13-17 and 5-13.

Kaitlyn Whitmer (Ferrum, VA/Franklin Co. HS) again led Catawba, recording 11 kills and picking up nine digs. Lainey Edwards (Asheboro, NC/Asheboro, HS) served up three aces, while setter Jordan Raye (Boonville, NC/Starmount HS) had 22 assists, seven kills, nine digs and two aces. Libero Jenny Young (Roanoke, VA/Patrick Henry HS) registered 20 digs.

Samantha Parrish led Newberry with eight kills, a dozen digs and a pair of blocks. Katie Davenport followed with seven kills and four blocks. Nadia Andrade collected 13 digs, while Kara Harris served three aces.

Catawba utilized a 6-0 run to pull away from a 7-7 tie to take control of the opening set. Raye, Whitmer and Edwards each had kills in the run. Whitmer later added three straight kills for a 17-8 lead. The Wolves would battle to within three points at 21-18 after a Davenport kill, but three straight attack errors and a kill by Raye ended the set.

The Lady Indians jumped to a 6-1 lead before Newberry rallied to tie things at eight-all. Catawba would score nine of the next ten points, capped by an ace from Raye to go on top 17-9. Catawba kept a comfortable lead from there, ending the set on a kill from Whitmer.

Newberry took a 4-1 lead early in set three and still held a 13-9 edge before Catawba rallied back. Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, NC/Kings Mountain HS) posted three kills over the next four points to pull the Lady Indians within 14-12 then Edwards served up back-to-back aces to put Catawba ahead 15-14. Whitmer followed with three kills over five points for a 19-15 advantage and Catawba pulled away for the sweep.