Friday, September 28, 2007

 

TUSCULUM EDGES NEWBERRY 3-2 IN SAC VOLLEYBALL THRILLER

 

                GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Vivian Lacy recorded 30 kills and 15 digs as the Tusculum College volleyball team outlasted visiting Newberry College 3-2 Friday night in a South Atlantic Conference thriller at Pioneer Arena.  The Pioneers (15-7, 4-1 SAC) win their seventh straight match by scores of 28-30, 30-19, 30-20, 28-30, 16-14. 

 

                Lacy, the reigning SAC Player of the Week, records 30 kills for the third time this year.

 

                Kelsey Hayden added a double-double with 14 kills and a match-high 12 blocks in the victory. Rookie Katie Luebke finished with 15 kills and 10 blocks, while setter Mariana Rezende added 59 assists and 17 digs.

 

                Newberry's Priscila Sales finished with 19 kills and eight digs, while Laurie Barman added 13 kills and seven blocks.  Fernanda Frey added a double-double of her own with 11 kills and 19 digs, while Cara Coleman contributed 11 digs and .375 hitting percentage in the loss.

 

                Tusculum's Alexis Rowles led TC's defensive efforts with 26 digs as the Pioneers finished with a .339 hitting percentage for the match.

 

                Tusculum jumped out to a 21-16 advantage in game one, only to see Newberry rally and capture the opening frame 30-28.  In the second game, Tusculum jumped out to a 5-0 lead, all on Rezende's serve en route to a 30-19 win.

 

                Tusculum also used a 10-3 spurt in the third frame as the Pioneers jumped out to a 2-1 advantage in the match.  TC looked to be heading for a win in the fourth game, but the Lady Indians fought back and scored the final four points to post a 30-28 decision and square the match.

 

                TC vaulted to a 5-0 lead in the final frame, including a pair of aces by Luebke.  But Newberry wouldn't go away as they would later trim the deficit to 12-0.  Tusculum added two points, including a kill by Lacy to jump up 14-11.  The Lady Indians fought off three match points and got back-to-back kills by Sales to tie the game at 14-14.  TC would score the final two points, including Lacy's 30th kill as the Pioneers prevailed.

 

                Tusculum returns to action Saturday when they host Catawba College for a 4 p.m. match at Pioneer Arena.  Newberry travels to Lincoln Memorial University on Saturday for a 2 p.m. SAC clash with the Lady Railsplitters.

 

- TC -