SALISBURY, N.C. - Following a tough opening set, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears won 25-14, 25-18, 25-10 over the final three sets to take down Catawba 3-1 on the road. This gives the Bears the season sweep over the Catawba Indians.
Averie Dale posted a season-high .682 attack percentage with 15 kills and four blocks. As a team, Lenoir-Rhyne hit .319, their fourth highest mark of the season.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Catawba 1 (17-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-10)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (14-6, 12-4 SAC), Catawba (12-8, 8-8 SAC)
Location: Salisbury, N.C. | Goodman Arena
STORY OF THE MATCH:
- Catawba forced five attack errors and held the Bears to a 0.156 hitting percentage in an opening set victory.
- The Bears quickly turned the tables in set two, using a 7-0 run to go up 13-4.
- Rachael Chambers capped off the set with back-to-back kills.
- Averie Dale and Emmaleigh Allen combined for 10 kills in a 25-18 set two victory.
- Lenoir-Rhyne held Catawba to a -0.065 hitting percentage en-route to a 25-10 set four win to clinch the match.
STATS OF THE MATCH:
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Lenoir-Rhyne holds a 48-44 lead in the all-time series.
- The Bears have won six in a row against Catawba and 18 of the last 19.
- This is one of Lenoir-Rhyne's oldest rivalries, having begun in 1977.
- Lenoir-Rhyne was ranked seventh in the first Southeast Region NPI rankings, which is being used to determine the NCAA Tournament field.
UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne will travel to Harrogate, Tennessee, on Friday to take on Lincoln Memorial. The Railsplitters are 10-10 (8-8 SAC) and defeated Carson-Newman in five sets earlier tonight. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
