Saturday, September 15, 2007

TUSCULUM VOLLEYBALL BEATS CATAWBA 3-2

(Release courtesy of Catawba Sports Information)

SALISBURY, N.C. --- Tusculum outlasted host Catawba to claim a five-game win in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action on Saturday afternoon at Goodman Gym. Tusculum won by the scores of 30-27, 32-30, 24-30, 23-30 and 15-9 and improves to 9-7 overall and 1-1 in the SAC. The Catawba Indians have a nine-match win streak snapped and fall to 13-2 and 1-1.

Senior Vivian Lacy (Palm Bay, FL) posted 32 kills, 16 digs and four aces to pace the Pioneers. Libero Alexis Rowles (Simpsonville, SC) had 24 digs and setter Mariana Rezende (Belo Harizonte, BRAZIL) delivered 65 assists.

Lacy recorded 15 kills in the opening two games as Tusculum took control. The Pioneers pulled away from a 23-23 tie in the opener and rallied from a 29-28 deficit to take game two. Catawba’s Melissa Powers (Bennett, NC/N. Moore HS) put down 16 kills over games three and four as the Lady Indians drew even.

Tusculum grabbed early control in the deciding fifth game. Lacy had a pair of kills to put the lead at 7-4 and served an ace for a 9-4 edge. Catawba could score three straight points to pull within 9-7, but Holli Cadenhead (Van Vleck, TX) had a pair of kills to help Tusculum to pull ahead 12-8. Cadenhead ended the match with an ace.

Powers led Catawba with 27 kills and was followed by fellow junior Melissa Griffith (Williamsburg, VA/Lafayette HS), who tallied 25 kills. Both went over 1,000 career kills in the loss. Setter Andi Henderson (Swansboro, NC/Swansboro HS) had 66 assists, nine kills and 10 digs.

- TC -