SALISBURY, N.C. — The Carson-Newman volleyball team suffered its first loss of the 2010 season on Friday night, falling to Catawba 3-0 (28-30, 23-25, 24-26) in South Atlantic Conference action at Goodman Gym.

With the loss, the Lady Eagles fall to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Catawba improves to 4-2 on the season and 1-1 in SAC play.

Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, N.C./Kings Mountain HS) led Catawba, posting a double-double with 11 kills and a dozen digs. Kaitlyn Whitmer (Ferrum, Va./Franklin Co.) added nine kills, 11 digs and four blocks, while freshman Anna Logan (Yadkinville, N.C./Mt. Tabor HS) posted five blocks and six kills. Katie Moran (Northville, Mich./Northville HS) had eight kills, libero Jenny Young (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry HS) totaled 18 digs and setter Megan Courson (Statesville, N.C./W. Iredell HS) delivered 30 assists, seven kills and seven digs.

Carson-Newman's Carly Swisher (Fort Collins, Colo.) posted a game-high 12 kills and six blocks to pace the Lady Eagles. Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) provided nine kills, eight digs and six blocks with libero Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, Tenn.) collecting 20 digs and a pair of aces.

Catawba led much of game one and took a 20-16 edge after three straight Lady Eagle hitting errors. Carson-Newman battled back with five consecutive points, two on kills by Swisher. The Lady Eagles had the first game point, but Courson killed it off for Catawba. Whitmer killed the next point to give Catawba its first game point and started a stretch in which the teams traded two-point runs. Down 28-27, Courson had a kill then Moran for a 29-28 Catawba edge. A Carson-Newman setting error led to the winning point.

The Lady Indians took an early lead in game two. Whitmer had two kills, a block and an ace in a 10-2 run that put Catawba up 16-8. The Lady Eagles rallied from a 20-13 deficit to get within a point at 21-20, but could not get the game tied. Meeks was able to kill of the game point.

Carson-Newman would battle back from behind in the third game as well. The Lady Eagles faced a 20-16 deficit for the third straight game, but would tie things at 24-all after three straight block points. James and Lindsay Bryant (Gainesville, GA) were in on two of the points. Meeks killed a point for a 25-24 Catawba lead and a hitting error gave the Lady Indians the match.

C-N returns to action on Saturday at Wingate. Match time is set for 2 p.m. in Wingate, N.C.