NEWBERRY — The Newberry College volleyball team (8-8, 5-3 SAC) won its fourth South Atlantic Conference match in a row, defeating Mars Hill (1-10, 1-8 SAC) 3-1 (16-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-23) on Friday night at Eleazer Arena.

This is the first time since the 2013-14 season that Newberry has won four South Atlantic Conference matches in a row.

Madison Darby-McClure led the Wolves in kills for the second game in a row. She finished with 16 kills. Logan Hayward, who passed 1,000 kills in her Newberry career last match against Coker, posted a double-double with 14 kills and 16 digs. Sidra Triplett had 11 kills and a team-best .529 attack percentage.

Maggie Marsh had a career-high 58 assists and Kensley Jordan tallied a match-high 22 digs.

Newberry and Mars Hill were tied at 9-9 in the first set before the Lions used an 8-2 spurt to lead 17-11. Mars Hill went on to win the first set, 25-16.

The Wolves slowly pulled away from the Lions in the second set. Newberry led 9-7 before creating some separation to lead 18-12 and eventually winning the set by a score of 25-15. The Wolves doubled up the Lions, out-scoring Mars Hill at the end of the second set, 16-8. Newberry posted a team-best .343 attack percentage in the frame.

Newberry controlled the third set as the Lions never led in the set. Mars Hill remained within striking distance of the Wolves towards the end of the third period. A run of five straight points tied the set at 23-23 and opened the door for Mars Hill, but Newberry prevailed, 25-23.

The fourth and final set was the closest all evening as it featured a total of 11 ties and three lead changes between the two sides. Mars Hill ran out to a 16-12 lead before Hayward’s kill pulled Newberry to within one at 19-18. Three straight attack errors by the Lions gave Newberry the lead. Mars Hill battled back to tie the set at 23-23. Darby-McClure’s kill gave Newberry its first match point of the set. After the Mars Hill attack, Darby-McClure and Marsh stood tall as their block gave Newberry a 25-23 set four win.

Mary Kate Griffin led Mars Hill with 11 kills and 16 digs. Andie Russell dished out 20 assists and Lauren Hochstetler had 17 digs.

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This release was provided by Newberry College.