Volleyball Falls to Tusculum in SAC Tournament

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Catawba saw its volleyball season end on Tuesday night with a first round loss in the South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Tournament to top-seeded Tusculum at Pioneer Areana. The Pioneers improve to 20-4 and advance to the tournament semifinals after a 25-19, 25-17 and 25-13 victory. The Catawba Indians end their season at 11-14.

Allison Bryant led the Lady Indians with eight kills and four digs. Raytchelle Miranda posted six kills, four digs and a block. Ashley Johnson collected five blocks and Arianna Colon four.

Catawba battled back from an early 7-2 deficit in the opening set. A Miranda kill started a 9-2 run that put the Lady Indians up 11-9. Four straight blocks, a combo by Johnson and Colon, and two solos by Johnson around one from Colon ended the run. Tusculum retook the lead and after a Miranda kill, the Pioneers ran off five straight points to lead 20-14.

The second set was tied 11 times with five lead changes. Miranda killed a point to put Catwaba up 12-11, but with the set tied at 14, the Pioneers went on an 8-1 run to take a 22-15 lead. Tusculum went up early in set three and never trailed. Leading 7-4, the Pioneers used a 9-2 run to pull away.

Tusculum hit 39% to just 16% for Catawba. Emiah Burrowes and Raeley Matthews each had 13 kills for the hosts. Carli Pigza added 10 kills.