Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Grand Rapids, MI – UC Volleyball began the first day of competition at the Cornerstone/Aquinas Tournament on Friday. The Patriots started the day with a tough loss to the Saints of Aquinas College 3-1 (25-20, 14-25, 27-25, 25-12). In the next match, Cumberlands fell to the Saints of Siena Heights, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-20). After the first day of play, the Patriots' record falls to 11-11 overall.

In the first match against Aquinas, the Saints went ahead first with a 5-1 lead then extended their lead to 10-4. UC gradually chipped away at the lead, managing to tie the set at 16-16. Aquinas rallied to retake the lead at 19-16, but not before the Patriots shortened it back to 20-19. However, the Saints stole the last five of six to win the first set 25-20.

The second set was an early battle for the lead, but the Patriots took control for the 8-6 lead. After a pair of five point rallies, UC extended the lead to 19-10. The Saints attempted a comeback although UC didn't back down and went on to win the second set 25-14.

Aquinas started the third set with a 3-0 lead and increased their lead to 7-2. The Patriots came short of the tie at 9-8, however the Saints pushed their lead further to 14-9. After some back-and-forth UC brought the match close again at 18-17 then worked the tie at 20-20. The match had four more ties until the Patriots stole the lead at 25-24. With the set on the line, the Saints took three straight points for a 27-25 third set win.

Just like before, the Saints went ahead early for the lead in the fourth set at 8-5 and followed with a string of eight points for a 16-6 lead. After the Patriots took a point, each team exchanged four point rallies then Aquinas took another to take their lead at 24-11. UC scored a point, however the Saints took the next for a match and 25-12 set win.

Jessica Severs gathered 13 kills with Abbie Genders earning 11 of her own. Genders also recorded a season-high in blocks at four assisted and two solo. Lynsey Short earned 40 assists and two aces in the match. Tara Routliffe had 21 digs as Megan Willoughby notched 17.

In the next match, the Patriots jumped ahead over Siena Heights at 3-2 then each team traded points in pairs before UC retook the lead with three straight at 8-6. The Saints scored five straight for an 11-8 lead. Cumberlands managed to work the lead to 14-13 and scored their own five in a row to take the lead at 18-16. Siena Heights put together four points to steal the lead at 20-18. The Patriots tied it up at 20-20, however the Saints won the next five of seven to win the first set 25-22.

The second set started with the Saints taking an eight point lead at 10-2. Siena Heights extended their lead to ten, but the Patriots were able to shorten it to 19-16. A five point rally put the Saints lead to 24-16 then the Patriots took four to turn the deficit to 24-19. The next point went to the Saints for the 25-19 second set win.

After trading points to open the third set, the Saints went up 6-4 and followed up with a 10-6 lead. The set continued in Siena Heights' favor until the Patriots brought it close at 18-17.However the Saints wouldn't back down and retained control to win the match and set at 25-20.

Mackenzie Koch had eight kills in the match as Abbie Genders recorded seven. Megan Jackson led the team with five assisted blocks and Jessica Severs earned three assisted. Lynsey Short tallied 23 assists and three aces. Severs notched 11 digs while Megan Willoughby recorded ten digs.

The Patriots will return to the court Saturday, October 14, in Grand Rapids, MI for a pair of matches at the Cornerstone/Aquinas Tournament. First, Cumberlands faces 16^th-ranked Crusaders of Madonna University at 10 a.m. UC wraps up play against the 18^th-ranked Golden Eagles of Cornerstone University at 1 p.m.

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