HICKORY, N.C. - Lenoir-Rhyne found themselves in a battle with Newberry on Friday night, taking sets two, three, and five to win a five-set thriller in Shuford.
Emmaleigh Allen led the way with 21 kills, the second most of her career and the most since picking up 23 against Newberry in 2022.
Addison Vary had a monster double-double with 16 kills and 22 digs, both career highs.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Newberry 2 (21-25, 30-28, 25-17, 22-25, 15-12)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (9-3, 7-1 SAC), Newberry (9-5, 2-5 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Shuford Arena
STORY OF THE MATCH:
- Tied at 4-4, Newberry went on a quick 3-0 run to take a 7-4 lead.
- Lenoir-Rhyne took a 12-11 lead on an Averie Dale kills, but the Wolves hit well and won the set 25-21.
- The teams traded points the entire second set, eventually finding themselves tied at 24-all.
- Both teams had multiple set points opportunities, but a kill from Addison Vary and block by Emmaleigh Allen and Dale put the set away.
- The Bears jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in set two and never looked back, winning the set 25-17 in dominant fashion.
- Newberry answered, leading nearly the entire fourth set to set up a decisive fifth.
- The Wolves went on a 4-0 run to take a 6-4 lead early in the set.
- Down 9-7, two Allen kills provided a spark that led to a 5-0 Bear run.
- The Bears never relinquished the lead, winning on a Brooke Aeschliman kill.
STATS OF THE MATCH:
- Emmaleigh Allen (21), Brooke Aeschliman (19), Addison Vary (16), and Averie Dale (10) each finished with double-digit kills.
- Aeshliman's 19 kills were a new career high.
- Alicia Barbarito joined in the career high club with a career high 44 assists.
- Five Bears had double-digit digs, led by Vary (22) and Aeschliman (18).
- Rachael Chambers was tops with seven blocks (five solo), followed by five from Dale.
- Lenoir-Rhyne hit .237 on the evening while holding the Wolves to just .185.
- Both teams finished with exactly 27 attack errors.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Lenoir-Rhyne holds a 46-22 lead in the all-time series with Newberry and has won 11 straight.
- Head coach Nicole Barringer has never lost to the Wolves.
- The Bears are 3-0 in five set matches this year, also defeating Chico State and Wingate.
- Alicia Barbarito's 44 assists are the most for a Bear since Sydney Karjala notched 51 against Emory & Henry in October of 2023.
- The 30-28 second set was Lenoir-Rhyne's longest set of the year, clocking in at just over 39 minutes.
UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne continues their homestand next Tuesday when they host SAC leading Anderson in the 'Shu. The Trojans are 13-2 (7-0 SAC) and defeated Catawba 3-0 earlier tonight. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
