Barbourville, KY – The UC volleyball team faced the Golden Tigers of Brenau University and the Bulldogs of Union College in a tri-match on Saturday. The Patriots started the day with a 3-0 win over the Golden Tigers then fell to the Bulldogs 3-1. After the split, Cumberlands' record moves to 6-7 on the year.
In the first match of the day, the Patriots defeated Brenau in three straight sets, 25-21, 25-16, 25-13. The first set started with UC taking a 3-0 lead, but the Tigers bounced back to take a 6-3 lead. UC tied the match at 7-7, again Brenau took control at 10-7. Cumberlands tied it up at 10-10 then took the lead 12-11. The Tigers recaptured the lead at 13-12 and just like before UC tied the match at 20-20. After Brenau broke the tie for a 21-20 lead, the Patriots rallied with five straight points to steal the set 25-21.
The second set started with a back-and-forth lead change until UC took over at 9-5. The Tigers brought the score close to 13-11 but again the Patriots pushed away to take an 18-12 lead. Brenau couldn't muster the comeback and UC continued on win the set 25-16.
In the third set, Brenau started with the 2-0 lead before the Patriots went on a nine point terror to take a 9-2 lead. The Tigers shortened UC's lead to 10-7 but six straight points improved the UC lead to 16-7. The Patriots continued to dominate the set and went on to win 25-13 for the three set sweep.
Jessica Severs led the team in kills with eight in the match. Abbie Genders chipped in seven of her own while Megan Jackson added in six. Genders and Jackson each earned four blocks (three assisted and a solo). Lynsey Short recorded 22 assists in the match. Tara Routliffe had 24 digs with Severs tallying seven.
Cumberlands battled but fell 3-1 to the Bulldogs in the second match on Saturday, 25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 25-18. In the first set, the Patriots jumped ahead to a 4-2 lead but Union tied it up at 7-7. The Bulldogs forced three more ties then took the lead at 12-11. After UC tied it up at 12-12, Union went on a six point streak for an 18-12 lead. UC rallied to get within two points but the Bulldogs pushed ahead to win the set 25-21.
In the second set, the Patriots took control at 5-3 but the Bulldogs tied up the set 6-6. The lead was exchanged until 9-9 then Union had a three point run for the 12-9 lead. After the Bulldogs were up 16-11, UC rallied back to tie the set 17-17. The Patriots continued to rally and stole the lead 22-19. This lead held as UC went on to win the second set 25-21.
The Patriots held the 6-2 lead to start the third set, however Union went on an eight point run to steal the lead 10-6. UC managed to force the tie at 13-13 but the Bulldogs stringed together four points for the 17-13 lead. Union continued to hold control and won the third set 25-19.
The fourth set started with several ties and lead exchanges, but the Bulldogs took over at 9-7. The Patriots fought hard to tie the match up at 14-14 then Union battled back to take the lead 16-14. Union continued to piece together points to win the fourth set and match 25-18.
Mackenzie Koch and Abbie Genders notched ten kills apiece in the match. Jessica Severs contributed nine kills while Megan Jackson had eight of her own. Genders and Jackson each had three blocks while Severs, Koch, and Lynsey Short had two each. Short also gathered 35 assists. Tara Routliffe recorded 25 digs while Severs had a season-high of 15 digs in the match.
The Patriots will head to Lebanon, TN on Tuesday, September 26 to take on MSC-foe Cumberland University. First serve is set for 8 pm.
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