September 2, 2006

BANNER ELK, N.C.—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College volleyball team rallied from game one losses in both matches on Saturday to defeat Newberry College 3-2 (25-30, 30-26, 29-31, 30-28, 15-9) and Lenoir-Rhyne College 3-1 (23-30, 34-32, 30-28, 30-21) in the first day of the Carolina Challenge (hosted by Lees-McRae).

The Lady Knights (4-3 overall), who catapulted over .500 after sweeping play on Saturday, will compete in two more matches at the Carolina Challenge on Sunday. SAPC takes a third attempt at Francis Marion at 11:00 a.m. and then battles USC Aiken at 1:00 p.m.

St. Andrews 3 (25, 30, 29, 30, 15) vs. Newberry 2 (30, 26, 31, 28, 9)

Freshman middle blocker Galina Podolsky (Raleigh, N.C.) posted 22 kills, a .486 hitting percentage, and 5.5 total blocks (three solo, four assist) to lead the Knights to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Newberry (0-4).

Senior setter Kim Harper (Boca Raton, Fla.) provided a season-high 51 assists while junior Lindsey Stansbury (Morgan City, La.) and senior Jesi Bewley (Cincinnati, Ohio) spiked 15 and 11 kills, respectively. Bewley, a middle blocker, also had 3.5 blocks (one solo, five assist).

Junior libero Erin Haugen (Fort Mill, S.C.) led the Knights defensively with 23 digs. Stansbury followed with 14 digs and Harper scooped up 11 digs.

The Knights, who had 13.5 blocks (four solo, 19 assist), also served up multiple aces including two from Bewley, Harper, Stansbury, and senior Lauren McManus (Raleigh, N.C.).

St. Andrews 3 (23, 34, 30, 30) vs. Lenoir-Rhyne 2 (30, 32, 28, 21)

St. Andrews continued its strong play at the net with 10 blocks (five solo, 10 assist) in a rallied 3-1 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne. The tandem of Podolsky, who had four blocks (two solo, four assist), and Bewley, who made 2.5 blocks (two solo, one assist), led the Knights ‘D’.

Junior outside hitter Tara Lemieux (Panama City, Fla.) crushed a team-high 15 kills while Stansbury and Podolsky had 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Harper chipped in with 41 assists, 13 digs, and three aces. Haugen dug up 27 digs and McManus, a defensive specialist, excavated 22 digs.