Women’s Volleyball’s season draws to close against Highland Cavaliers

SALISBURY, N.C. — The Catawba College women's volleyball team honored its senior class and concluded the 2024 campaign Friday, falling 3-0 to UVA Wise.

TEAM STATS

- The Catawba Indians (4-21, 2-16 SAC) posted an even .000 hitting percentage while UVA Wise (12-15, 6-12 SAC) hit at a .179 clip

- UVA Wise boasted nine service aces on a .919 service percentage, topping Catawba's one ace and .868 success rate

- The blue and white were superior in the blocking department with 10 total blocks compared to the Highland Cavaliers' seven

- The Cavs logged better marks in setting percentage (.321-.191) and reception (.967-.868)

INDIVIDUAL STATS

- Jordan Danielson turned in a big eight-kill performance on a team-best .357 hitting percentage with a trio of blocks

- Fellow senior Rachel Gonzales also had three blocks, notching seven kills as Kelcie Love recorded a net-positive night with five strikes

- Haley Moffett collected 13 assists while Mya Benfield chipped in six, in addition to sharing the team high in digs at 13

- Riannel Arevalo also tacked on 13 digs, followed by Kary Hales' seven as the Salisbury, N.C. native landed Catawba's lone service ace

- Natalie Rehm had an impressive seven-stop outing to lead the defense among six multi-block Catawba Indians, including senior Caitlyn Cindrich who denied two UVA Wise attacks

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set

- The Cavs took the first five points, but Catawba charged back as Gonzales and Cindrich tallied kills to lift the hosts ahead, 7-6

- The blue and white held onto a narrow edge until Mailea Hufnagel helped key a momentum shift that tilted in UVA Wise's favor

- Strikes by Riley Brandon and Kaylee Scarce paired with Catawba gaffes kept the Cavs in the driver's seat as they logged a 25-14 win in the opening set

Second Set

- After alternating points to start the frame, UVA Wise went on a 10-1 run to reach a nine-point lead margin

- Two kills from Love helped keep the deficit limited at 8-9 points

- Gonzales and Rehm joined forces for a pair of blocks down the stretch but the Cavs' bolstered its lead, eventually proving too much to conquer in a 25-11 decision

Third Set

- Catawba began the third stanza with three blocks in its first eight points

- The squads remained neck-and-neck as Catawba held a steady advantage, solidified by Danielson blasts to make it 12-10

- Miscues by the hosts and timely offense gradually reeled UVA Wise into the lead

- Catawba chopped away at the deficit, going on to eliminate the gap at 20-20; however, kills by Scarce and Morgan Blevins, an ace from Cassidy Farley, and two Catawba attack errors allowed UVA Wise to slip away for a 25-21 final set