SALISBURY, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Volleyball Team (9-16, 5-10 SAC) won the opening two sets of the match, before dropping the next three to fall to Catawba College (9-10, 7-8 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference play Friday evening. Catawba earned the win by scores of 26-28, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22 and 15-9.
The Basics
RESULTS – Catawba 3, Emory & Henry 2 (26-28, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-9)
LOCATION – Salisbury, North Carolina
VENUE – Goodman Gymnasium at the Abernethy Physical Education Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (9-16, 5-10 SAC); Catawba (9-10, 7-8 SAC)
How It Happened
- Catawba got out on the front foot as they took an early 8-3 lead to force an E&H timeout. The Lady Catawba Indians pushed their advantage out to as many as nine, but the Wasps rallied to close the gap to just one at 19-18. The two teams went back-and-forth down the stretch and E&H reached set point. A block from senior middle Hannah Watson (Kingsport, Tenn.) and sophomore setter Payton Rolfsen (Fort Wayne, Ind.) completed the comeback to give the Wasps the opening-set win 28-26.
- The home team once again got out to an early 7-1 advantage, but E&H would storm back to draw within two at 13-11. The Wasps would go on to win 11 of the following 14 points to establish a 22-16 lead. E&H reached set point and freshman outside hitter Grace Duey (Tega Cay, S.C.) slammed home a kill to clinch the frame 25-21 and give the Wasps the 2-0 set advantage.
- The Wasps took control early in the third frame as they ran out to an 11-7 margin, but the Lady Catawba Indians responded to tie the match 15-15 at the midpoint. Catawba dominated the remainder of the set as they took ten of the final 13 points to win the stanza 25-18.
- E&H was first to the 15-point mark in the fourth set as they clung to a narrow one-point lead. The teams continued to trade points and the score was all square at 21-21. Catawba again closed out the set with a 4-1 run to even the match and force a deciding fifth set.
- Catawba led the entire set in the fifth, as they posted a hitting percentage of .318 to win the set and match by a 15-9 scoreline.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Senior outside hitter Brianna Hogan (Front Royal, Va.) tied a career-high for the third consecutive match with 18 kills and seven digs while sophomore outside hitter Julissa Hopgood (Lutz, Fla.) had a career-high 14 kills, two digs, one block and an assist. Sophomore right-side hitter Baylee Reasor (Christiansburg, Va.) posted a career-high five kills, two digs and a block. Watson recorded five kills, seven blocks, a dig and an assist.
- Rolfsen finished with a double-double on a team-high 39 assists, 13 digs, four blocks, three kills and a service ace. Senior libero Libby Bickelhaupt (Fort Myers, Fla.) had a team-high 30 digs, two assists and a pair of service aces.
Catawba Individual Leaders
- Rachel Gonzales paced Catawba with 14 kills, seven digs and an assist. Lauren Patrick registered 11 kills and three blocks while Kelcie Love had ten kills, four digs, one block and an assist.
- Dara Kane had a double-double with a match-high 45 assists, 14 digs, two kills, two service aces and a block.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry returns home on Monday, November 6 to take on the Wolves of Newberry College. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from the John Rutledge King Center.
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