SALISBURY, N.C. – Carson-Newman (8-9, 2-6 SAC) set season highs for digs, assists and kills, but fell in a five set thriller (25-17, 24-26, 22-25, 25-21, 20-22) to the Catawba Indians (7-9, 4-4 SAC) Friday night at Goodman Gym.

The Eagles got off to a hot start, wailing away at a .472 hit percentage in the first set.  Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) produced a match, season and career high 24 kills to go along with 10 digs.

"Harper hit really well, especially in the first and third sets, Carson-Newman head coach Shannon Mincey said. "We played so well in the first set, I hate that we went to a fifth set, but both teams played so well." 

The Eagles Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, Tenn.) obliterated her season high with 42 digs.  Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, Colo.) – 17 kills and 12 digs - and Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) – 58 assists and 20 digs - each finished with double doubles to go along with Harper's.  The Eagles had produced two double doubles coming into the Catawba match. 

"I want to celebrate everyone's individual success, but we lost," Mincey said. "Everyone busted their career highs.  Individual players did so well, but as a team we came up short."

Kaitlyn Whitmir and Carson Brewer finished with 23 and 22 kills, respectively for the Indians. 

"Both teams fought really hard tonight, we came up on the short end, but I look forward to the next meeting with them," Mincey said. "We had a lot of improvement tonight, we just fell short."  

The Eagles make a quick turnaround to face Wingate Saturday at 2 p.m.