Marietta, GA – The UC volleyball team used a fast start and late rally to defeat Life 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 20-25, 11-25, 15-13) in Mid-South Conference play Saturday night. With the win the Patriots improve to 12-7 overall and 2-3 in MSC play, while the Running Eagles fall to 7-16 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

It was an evenly played match to start the first set as the score was tied four times in the first 14 points.  The Patriots took advantage of Life miscues and tallied five unanswered points to take an 11-6 lead.  Cumberlands would use a pair of Lily Chapman kills to extend their lead to 14-7.  The two teams traded points until Life posted four straight points to cut the lead to 19-15.  The Patriots responded with three straight points, including a block from Leah Crist and Lily Chapman to make it 22-15. Life scored six of the next eight points before Lynsey Short found Chapman for the kill to give UC the first set 25-21.

Life to an early 6-3 lead in the second set and led by as many seven points 16-9.  The Patriots battled back led by Ashley Sobocinski would tallied a kill that sparked a 3-0 run.  The teams traded points until Chapman notched three straight kills to bring the Patriots within one at 17-18.  Life extended the deficit to 21-18, however UC scored three straight points to even the score at 21-21.  The score was tied two more times, before a Megan Jackson kill and a setting error gave Cumberlands the second set 25-23 and a 2-0 lead.

The Running Eagles responded taking the third set 25-20 and the fourth set 25-11 to force a deceive fifth set.  Carrying the momentum into the fifth set, Life had an 8-5 lead at the switch. The teams traded points with Life leading 13-9.  From that point the Patriots notched six straight points, including a Chapman service ace to cap it off, to take the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.

Chapman led the way for Cumberlands with 15 kills, 10 digs, and two blocks.  Mackenzie Koch added 12 kills, while Jackson finished with eight.  Short finished with 38 assists and six digs, while Tara Routliffe posted a team-high 21 digs.

The Patriots will return to action Wednesday, October 3, when they host MSC rival Shawnee State for the annual Rally for Special Education night. The match is slated for 6 p.m.  with live video available here and live stats available here.

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