Bowling Green, KY – The UC volleyball team came from behind to force fifth sets in both of their matches, however it wasn't enough as the Patriots fell to IU Southeast (21-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-16, 16-14) and Texas Wesleyan (22-25, 11-25, 25-22, 25-20, 11-15) 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Ephram White Gym.

IU Southeast (3-0) jumped out to a fast start scoring the first seven points of the match and extending their lead to 19-8 in the first set.  UC (1-3) tallied nine unanswered points, including a pair of kills from Rebekah Fisher and Ashley Sobocinski, to cut the deficit to 19-17.  After trading points, Anna Zuniga hit a service ace to bring Cumberlands within a point 21-20, however that was the closest they got as the Grenadiers took the first set 25-21.

In the second set UC used runs of two, three, and five points to take a 15-11 lead. The Grenadiers cut it to 15-14 before Cumberlands recorded five straight points to extend their lead to 20-14.  The two teams traded points until Lynsey Short found Fisher for kill to give the Patriots the set 25-18 and tie the score at 1-1.

Short dished out three assists in the first six points of the third set to put the Patriots ahead 5-1 early.  From that point IU Southeast went on a 10-3 run and extended their lead to 14-10, before the Patriots notched three straight kills to cut the deficit to 14-13.  The two teams traded points until Mackenzie Koch and Megan Jackson blocked an Alexis Cosgrove attack to even the score at 18-18. The score was tied twice more before IU Southeast pulled away to win the set 26-24 and take a 2-1 lead.

Cumberlands jumped out to a 9-3 lead in fourth set, with for kills from Sobocinski.  UC remained in control and a pair of service aces from Jen Stein extended their lead to 14-8.  Cumberlands added a five point run paired with a couple Koch kills gave the Patriots the set 25-16.

The Patriots got off to a 5-3 lead in the fifth set however IU Southeast rallied to take an 8-7 lead.  After switching sides of the court the Grenadiers extended their lead to 11-9.  The two teams traded points before UC tallied four straight points to take a 14-12 lead. However it would be enough as IU Southeast converted the final four points of the match to take the win 3-2.

Sobocinski led the way for the Patriots with 21 kills, and 11 digs, while Routliffe finished with 29 digs and six assists.  Short dished out 41 assists, with Jackson making six blocks and eight kills.

Cumberlands turned around to play Texas Wesleyan and the Rams took a quick 2-0 lead winning the first two sets 25-22 and 25-11.

Texas Wesleyan continued their strong play in the third set taking a 6-4 lead, before a Leah Crist kill put UC in front 7-6.  Both teams continued to battle as the score was tied five times in the set, with the final time coming at 22-22, before UC scored three straight points to take the set 25-22 and cut the deficit to 2-1.

In the fourth set, the Rams took the earlier lead and extended it 14-6. Texas Wesleyan continued their strong play in the third set taking a 6-4 lead, before a Leah Crist kill put UC in front 7-6.  Both teams continued to battle as the score was tied five times in the set, with the final time coming at 22-22, before UC scored three straight points to take the set 25-22 and cut the deficit to 2-1.

The two teams traded points to start the fifth set and were tied at 4-4,  before Texas Wesleyan tallied four straight points to take an 8-4 lead.  UC cut the deficit to a point on three different occasions but couldn't get any closer as the Rams held on for the 3-2 win.

Leading the way for UC was Short, who tallied 46 assists and 11 digs.  Routliffe chipped in a season-high 34 digs, while Sobocinski recorded a team-high 19 kills.  Crist finished with four blocks and five kills. 

The Patriots will return to action Wednesday, August 29, when they host Asbury in their home opener at 7 p.m. in the UC Volleyball Gym. Live video of the match is available here,  while live stats will be available here.

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