Lebanon, TN – The UC volleyball team extended their win streak to five straight matches after defeating Cumberland 3-1 (25-19, 18-25, 25-21, 25-23) in MSC play Tuesday night.  With the win the Patriots improve to 15-7 overall and 5-3 in MSC play, while the Phoenix fall to 6-13 overall and 3-5 in conference play.

It was a back-and-forth match right from the start, as the two teams were tied three times in the first six points.  Cumberland took six of the next eight points to a 9-5 lead.  After trading points, UC scored six straight points, including three assists from Lynsey Short, to take a 12-10 lead.  The lead changed twice before Mackenzie Koch notched a kill and a service ace to extend the Patriots lead to 21-16.  The Phoenix tried to cut into the lead but Cumberlands closed out the set with three straight points including Leah Crist and Short combining for a block to give UC the set 25-19 and the 1-0 lead.

Cumberland was able to take the second set 25-18 to even the score at 1-1.  In the third set, the Patriots took advantage of Phoenix miscues to take an early 4-3 advantage.  Cumberland to a 6-5 lead, before UC responded with nine unanswered points to extend take a 14-6 lead.  That run featured a pair of Ashley Sobocinski service aces along with a pair of Megan Jackson kills.  Short dished out a pair of assists and added a kill to help the Patriots extend their lead to 19-12.  The Phoenix cut the lead to one point, 20-19, however the Patriots battled back to take the set 25-21 and a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, UC took an early 4-1 lead and extended it to 7-3.  After Cumberland tied the match at 7-7, UC scored five straight points to take a 12-7 advantage.  UC recorded five of the next nine points to extend their lead to 17-11.  The Phoenix battled back taking eight of the next ten points to even the score at 19-19.  Short gave UC a two-point lead with a kill before Cumberland notch back-to-back points to tie the set 23-23.  Cumberlands used a Phoenix service error coupled with a Koch kill gave the Patriots the set 25-23 and the 3-1 win. 

Short led the way with 32 assists, three kills, and a block, while Jackson finished with a team-high nine kills and a block.  Sobocinski recorded eight kills, six assists, and three service aces.  Defensively UC was led by Crist and Tara Routliffe.  Crist notched a game-high five blocks and six assists, while Routliffe finished with 18 digs.

The Patriots will return to action Thursday, October 11, when they travel to Columbia, KY to face sixth-ranked Lindsey Wilson.  The match is scheduled for 8 p.m. with live stats available here, while live video will be available here.

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