NEWBERRY, S.C. --- Jessica King recorded 14 kills, while Newberry College posted 10 team blocks as the Wolves defeated visiting Tusculum College 3-0 Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action. Newberry won the match by scores of 25-23, 26-24, 25-23 to gain a split in the season series.

Tusculum (ranked No. 6 in NCAA II Southeast Region) was paced by Bailee Price's double-double of 13 kills and 13 digs, while Sam Underwood recorded a dozen kills and a .310 hitting percentage (12-3-29). Ashley Sarmiento finished with 30 assists and two service aces, while Caitlyn Dean paced the Pioneers with 20 digs on defense.

Newberry's Blair Browning guided the Newberry offense with 32 assists and nine kills, while Samantha Parrish totaled six kills, 15 digs and three block solos in the victory.

Tusculum scored four straight points to lead 15-11 in the opening set, but Newberry answered with a 5-1 run to tie the score a 16-16 following a kill by King. The Wolves moved out to a 23-20 advantage, but the Pioneers scored three straight points thanks to an Underwood kill and a Dean service ace to tie the score at 23-23. But setting error and an ace from Lindsey Hollingsorth on set point, gave the frame to the Wolves, 25-23.

The Wolves jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the second set, but the Pioneers responded with a 12-3 run to grab a 17-14 lead. The Wolves answered the run and tied the set at 19-19 on a block by Parrish. Newberry would move to a 24-22 lead following a service ace by Browning, but the Pioneers fought off two set points with a Price kill and a Newberry attack error to tie the set. But Amanda Soper posted a kill and assisted on a block to win the set 26-24.

Tusculum led 6-3 in the third, but Newberry responded five straight points following a Newberry timeout. King led the run with four kills for the Wolves while Lauren Prachar had an ace sandwiched between King's kills. Kills by Soper and Hollingsworth gave the Wolves match point at 24-18. Tusculum fought off five match point five times and cut the deficit to one at 24-23 following consecutive attack errors. But Browning sealed the win on a kill as the Wolves held on for the victory.

Tusculum returns home on Tuesday to host in-state foe Lincoln Memorial University for a 7 p.m. match at Pioneer Arena.

- TC -