JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — The Newberry College volleyball team won its fifth South Atlantic Conference match in a row, sweeping Carson-Newman 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 27-25) Saturday night at Holt Fieldhouse.
Newberry is now 14-10 overall and 11-5 in SAC play. Carson-Newman moves to 3-19 overall and 2-12 in conference play.
Logan Hayward posted another double-double, notching 16 kills and 11 digs. Madison Darby-McClure recorded 10 kills and five block assists. Maggie Marsh dished out 35 assists and Kensley Jordan had 16 digs.
Both teams started off evenly in the first set as the two teams were tied at 9-9. Newberry was able to eke out a slim lead the rest of the set before pulling away to win set one, 25-20. The Wolves hit .286 as a team.
The second set was also back and forth as the two teams combined for 10 ties and seven lead changes in the set. Newberry used a 6-0 run to lead 16-10. Carson-Newman pulled within two at 20-18 before the Wolves scored the 25-21 set two victory.
The Eagles pulled out to a decisive lead in the third set at 11-3. Newberry started to show signs of life to pull within 14-7. The Wolves used their momentum the rest of the set, rattling off an 11-3 run, to come back and win the third and final, set 27-25.
Abbie McFarlane notched 13 kills for the Eagles. Anna Patton recorded 35 assists and Taylor Lowe collected 20 digs.
Newberry returns home next Friday as they host Brevard (5-17, 4-11 SAC). The match will begin at 7 p.m. in Eleazer Arena.
On Friday night in Harrogarte, Tenn., the Newberry College volleyball team defeated Lincoln Memorial 3-2 (23-25, 30-28, 25-22, 13-25, 15-11) Friday night at Mary Mars Gym to win their fourth South Atlantic Conference match in a row. LMU started the contest atop the South Atlantic Conference standings.
Newberry is now 13-10 overall and 10-5 in SAC play. Lincoln Memorial is now 17-4 overall and 11-2 in conference play. This marks the fifth straight season Lincoln Memorial and Newberry have split regular season meetings.
Logan Hayward notched a double-double with a match-high 20 kills and 10 digs. Hayward’s 20 kills mark the highest total by a Newberry player this season. Madison Darby-McClure tallied 14 kills and Toni-Anne Whitlow recorded 11 off of the bench. Darby-McClure also totaled six block assists. Sidra Triplett notched 10 kills.
Maggie Marsh dished out 51 assists and Kensley Jordan tallied 27 digs for the highest total by a Newberry player this year. 65 total team kills and 10.0 total blocks are the most Newberry has posted as a team this season.
The first set started off neck and neck as the teams were tied at 10-10. Lincoln Memorial led 19-16 before Newberry tied the set at 20-20. Hayward’s kill tied the set at 23-23, but two straight LMU points gave the Lady Railsplitters a 25-23 set one win.
The Wolves led early in set two by a score of 5-2. Newberry continued its strong play and led 17-13. Lincoln Memorial rallied back with a 7-4 spurt to pull within 21-20. LMU fought off two set points after Newberry led 24-22 to tie the set at 24-24. Neither team could gain separation as the set was tied four separate times. After it was tied 28-28, the Wolves cashed in on two LMU errors to win the set 30-28. Hayward led Newberry with five kills in the second set.
Lincoln Memorial ran out to an 11-7 lead in the third set. The Lady Railsplitters continued to lead 17-13 before Newberry went on a 12-5 run to close out the set. The Wolves scored the last six points in a row to win by a score of 25-22. Hayward notched seven kills in the frame and Newbery hit a match-best .357.
Liz Brock totaled 23 kills and 14 digs for LMU. Abby Cash tallied 50 assists and 21 digs.