SALISBURY, N.C. – The Catawba women's volleyball team fell to South Atlantic Conference (SAC) rival Lenoir-Rhyne 3-1 on Tuesday night at Goodman Arena.
Freshman middle blocker Maddie Henning provided a strong defensive effort with five total blocks, two solo and three assisted. Maggie Ayers led the attack with 10 kills. Camden Bizot recorded 14 assists while Sydney McCutcheon tallied 12. McCutcheon and Lillie Kate Rogers each notched two aces. Reigning SAC Defensive Player of the Week Riley Hill collected 18 digs.
Catawba (12-8, 8-8 SAC) registered 50 digs to Lenoir-Rhyne's (14-6, 12-4 SAC) 46. However, the Bears impressed offensively with 11 aces, 48 kills on a .319 hitting percentage and 42 assists. Lenoir-Rhyne was also sharp around the net, blocking 12 shots to the blue and white's six.
Catawba came out firing, generating 15 kills on a .324 hitting percentage in a 25-18 first-set mastery. The hosts led the frame 12-11 before breaking it open after a 6-0 run with Henning and Rebekah Ayers combining for two blocks, kills from Alani Kincaid and Maggie Ayers and two from Henning. The Catawba Indians defense held the Bears to a .156 hitting percentage in the period as they took a 1-0 match lead.
Maggie Ayers would deliver three kills in the second, but it was not enough as Lenoir-Rhyne uncorked its most efficient offensive set of the night, winning 25-14 and evening the match.
The visitors continued their strong play early in the third, leading 14-8. Catawba would fight its way back, trailing 16-14 after the Ayers twins each landed two kills and Maggie combined with Henning for another block. The Bears, however, pulled away with more high-powered offense, earning a 25-18 set-three victory and taking their first match lead.
McCutcheon started the fourth frame with an ace and assist, but the determined Bears quickly gained a lead and held on to close out the set 25-10 and win the South Atlantic Conference match 3-1.
Before the match, Catawba Women's Volleyball celebrated Faculty Appreciation Night. Each student-athlete invited a Catawba College faculty member who has made a positive impact on them to join the team on the court pregame to be honored by the fans at Goodman Arena.
The Catawba Indians will begin a weekend road trip to Tennessee, first by traveling to Carson-Newman on Friday at 6 p.m. before heading to Lincoln Memorial on Saturday at 2 p.m. for more SAC competition.
