Volleyball Wins Third Straight Behind Another Big Day from Smith

MORY, Va. – Catawba netted its third straight league win, sweeping host Emory & Henry in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action on Saturday afternoon at the Prior Convocation Center. The Catawba Indians won by the scores of 25-22, 25-23 and 25-16 in improving to 6-14 overall and 4-9 in the SAC. The Wasps fall to 3-19 and 2-11.

Hayes Smith had a big day for Catawba, posting 15 kills with just two errors and hitting at .419. She added seven digs and a block. Ashley Johnson followed with nine kills, while setter Dara Kane handed out 37 assists and posted a pair of blocks. Libero Kary Hales collected 13 digs, while Raytchelle Miranda and Lauren Bodell served a pair of aces. 

Catawba took the opening set late. Up 22-21, Rachel Gonzales and Johnson had kills to put the Lady Indians at set point. Following a kill from Brianna Hogan for Emory & Henry, Gonzales killed off the final point.

The Lady Indians trailed 22-21 in the second set before Kane killed off a point to draw Catawba level. Bodell and Katie Clark would combine for a block and after a Wasp hitting error Catawba led 24-22. A Camden Jones kill staved off one set point for Catawba before Bodell put down the final point. 

Catawba went on a big run early in the third set. Down 6-5, the Lady Indians reeled off seven straight points to take control. Clark and Smith each had two kills in the run. Clark had three kills and Miranda an ace in a four-point burst that pushed the margin to 22-12. Gonzales would kill off the final point.

Julissa Hopgood led the Wasps with 10 kills. Jones had nine kills, while Gracyn Miller had four kills and three blocks.

Catawba is back at home on Friday, hosting Anderson at 7 p.m. The Lady Indians host Newberry on Saturday at 2 p.m.