Catawba Rallies to Take Down Carson-Newman in Five Sets

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Catawba rallied from two-sets down to top regionally-ranked Carson-Newman in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action on Saturday night at Goodman Gym. The Catawba Indians won by the scores of 19-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-17 and 16-14 to improve to 10-12 overall and 7-9 in the SAC. The Eagles, ranked seventh in the latest Southeast Region poll, go to 17-12 and 10-6.

Catawba trailed 14-11 in the fifth set before scoring the final five points to win the match. A kill by Arianna Colon was followed by two from Raytchelle Miranda to tie the set at 14. After a C-N time out, Jordan Gore and Allison Bryant combined on a block to bring Catawba to match point. Bryant would kill off the final point.

Bryant and Colon paced Catawba with 13 kills apiece. Bryant added 10 digs, three aces and a pair of blocks. Kylie Morgan and Ashley Johnson each had 10 kills. Morgan tallied 13 digs with two places and two aces. Johnson picked up five blocks. Miranda had nine kills and four blocks with Kary Hales racking up 20 digs. Payton Medich and Dara Kane handed out 33 and 22 assists, respectively.

After dropping the first two sets, Catawba opened the third set with a 5-0 run. The Lady Indians never trailed in the set, but C-N pulled within 20-18. Johnson had a kill and a block to push Catawba up 23-18. Up 23-21, Morgan had a kill and C-N an attack error to end the set.

Catawba trailed early in set four, but used a 6-0 run to turn a 12-9 deficit into a 15-12 edge. Colon had two kills in the run. The Lady Indians stayed in front, getting kills from Miranda and Morgan to go up 20-15.

Julia Wheeler led Carson-Newman with 12 kills. Taylor Keeran had 11 kills. Skylor Weaver totaled five blocks and Taylor Rohr served three aces.

Catawba hosts Coker in its final home match of the season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.