ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Catawba women's volleyball team turned in a quality showing at the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Tournament Quarterfinals but was edged by top-seeded Anderson 3-1, Tuesday morning at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center.
All-Freshman honoree Maggie Ayers led the attack with 12 kills, while Lillie Kate Rogers and Alani Kincaid each added nine. Sydney McCutcheon generated 19 assists, and Camden Bizot tallied 16. All-Conference libero Riley Hill chipped in 15 digs. Lauren Patrick and Kincaid each contributed to three blocks.
Catawba (14-13, 10-12 SAC) proved to be a worthy opponent by blocking eight attacks and landing four aces, outdoing the Trojans in those departments. Anderson (28-3, 21-1 SAC), however, posted 61 kills on a .274 hitting percentage and tallied 60 digs defensively to earn their 14th straight victory.
The Trojans gained an early 8-2 first-set advantage, forcing a Catawba timeout. Rogers delivered a kill as the blue and white cut their deficit to 12-7. Kincaid produced her third kill and a block assist before McCutcheon served an ace, but Anderson pulled away to win the first stanza 25-17.
Kincaid and Rogers combined for three kills as the blue and white took a 3-0 lead early in the second. A successful challenge from head coach Brenn Ferguson and an Ali Rose ace occurred before a Catawba block party ensued.
Rogers, Kincaid and Maggie Ayers all delivered solo blocks. Patrick had a hand in two block assists, and Maddie Henning and Rebekah Ayers joined in on the Anderson denial as Catawba hit at a .310 rate to run away with the second set, 25-16, evened the match, and became the first eight-seed to win a set at the SAC Championship Tournament since the Spring of 2021.
Two kills from Maggie Ayers nodded things up at six all in the third. The reigning SAC Offensive Player of the Week tacked on three more to put the blue and white ahead 14-13. The Trojans, however, found their footing offensively and pulled away late to take the third set 25-19.
Kills from Kincaid and Maggie Ayers tied the score at four all before a well-timed setter dump from McCutcheon put the blue and white in front. The Trojans would respond with a 7-3 run before Rogers served an ace, and Henning fired an attack through the middle to bring Catawba within one. Anderson then answered with a 4-0 run, forcing a timeout. Rogers added two more kills and Kendall Jones provided a solo block, but the top-seeded Trojans fended off the Catawba Indians to win the fourth frame 25-18 and advanced to Wednesday's semifinal.
The Catawba women's volleyball team finishes the 2026 season with a winning record while earning the most victories the program has accomplished since 2016, with lots of young talent slated to return next season.
