GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Ashley Johnson led Catawba with seven kills and a pair of blocks, but Tusculum managed a three-set win over the visitors in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action on Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Arena. The Pioneers improve to 7-7 overall and 7-4 in the SAC, winning by the scores of 25-15, 25-21 and 25-15. The Catawba Indians falls to 3-13 and 1-8.

Coming off a tough four-set loss at Mars Hill on Friday, three of the four sets being decided by the two-point minimum, the Lady Indians started slow and dropped the opening set 25-15. Tusculum build leads of 10-3 and 19-8, while the Lady Indians hit a negative 2.7%.

Catawba battled back in set two and kept it tight throughout. Kelcie Love had a pair of kills in a 3-0 run that erased an 8-5 deficit to even the set. Another run that included a solo block by Rachel Gonzales put the Lady Indians on top 12-10. The Pioneers used a late run to go up 21-18, but a kill Gonzales pulled Catawba within 21-20 before Tusculum ran off the next three points.

The Lady Indians were even early in set three after kills from Gonzales and Natalie Rehm along with an ace from Dara Kane had the score knotted at 8-8. Tusculum answered with an 8-1 run to take control and win the match.

Gonzales followed Johnson with six kills, adding a block and seven digs. Rehm had five kills and two blocks. Libero Karey Hales picked up 18 digs with Audrey Spendle providing 13 assists.

Emiah Burrowe has a dozen kills and a pair of aces to pace Tusculum. Hayley Stull had three blocks and Carly Sosnowski 16 digs.

Catawba travels to Newberry on Tuesday before returning home on Thursday to face Lincoln Memorial. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.