Bowling Green, KY – The University of the Cumberlands volleyball team swept both of its matches 3-0 on the final day of the Vette City Volleyball Classic Saturday at Ephram White Gymnasium. The Patriots defeated Florida College 26-24, 25-19, 25-12) before knocking off Bethel (25-23, 25-16, 25-22) to improve to 6-2 on the season and extend their win streak to four straight matches.

Florida College jumped out to a 6-1 and later a 9-4 lead in the first set. The Patriots responded with Mackenzie Koch and Olivia Verdecchia teaming up for a block which sparked a 4-1 run and cut the deficit to 10-8. The Falcons added a point before Ashley Sobocinski and Abbie Genders each recorded a pair of kills to put UC in front 14-11. Florida College responded with an 8-1 run to retake the lead 19-16. UC cut the deficit to 19-18, however, three straight points from the Falcons extended Florida College's lead to 22-19. Cumberlands battled back scoring seven of the final nine points, which was capped off by a Leah Crist block, to win the first set 26-24. 
 

Cumberlands carried the momentum into the second set and utilized a 5-0 run to take an early 7-4 lead. The match was tied three times before UC got back-to-back kills from Koch and Lexi Lester to take a 14-11 advantage.  After the Falcons evened the score at 17-17, Cumberlands went on a 5-1 run which included kills from Lily Chapman and Genders to take a 22-18 edge. UC notched three straight points to close out the set 25-19 and take a 2-0 lead.
 

Florida College began the third set with a 3-2 lead before consecutive kills by Abbie Genders sparked a four-point run to put UC in front 6-3. The two teams traded points to tie the match 9-9. Cumberlands retook the lead with ten unanswered points, including four kills by Ashley Sobocinski to take a 19-9 lead. Genders added two more kills en route to closing out the set 25-12 and giving UC its first sweep of the season.
 

Genders led the way with 13 kills, while Sobocinski added ten kills and nine digs in the match. Anna Zuniga and Lexi Lester dished out 19 and ten assists, respectfully, while Jennifer Stein added nine digs.  Koch and Crist finished tied for the team-high with five blocks apiece.

Cumberlands capped off its weekend by posting a 3-0 win over Bethel. Bethel jumped out to a 16-11 lead in the first set, however, the Patriots began to battle back with a 4-1 run to make it 17-15. A few points later, Verdecchia recorded a kill that sparked a four-point run for UC to even the score at 20-20. After trading points Cumberland closed out the set with four straight points, including a pair of kills by Genders, to win the first set 25-23.

The Patriots used a pair of 4-0 runs coupled with three 3-0 runs to take a 20-8 lead in the second set. UC got kills from Genders and Verdeccha to take the set 25-16 and extend their lead to 2-0. 

The Wildcats to an early 7-2 lead in the third set but Cumberlands continued to battle back. Koch tallied a pair of kills as part of a 5-0 run to give UC a 9-8 lead. The match was tied five times before Bethel scored six unanswered points to take a 19-14 lead. UC responded with seven straight points, including a pair of aces from Jessica Putnam to take a 21-19 lead. After trading points, Cumberlands scored three straight points to win the set 25-22 and the match 3-0.

Genders led the way with 12 kills, while Montague tallied 16 kills. Zuniga chipped in 14 assists and 12 digs as Putnam finished with three aces.

The Patriots will return to action Thursday, August 29, when they travel to Wilmore, KY to face Asbury at 7 p.m.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter - @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram - @UCPatriots, SnapChat - @UC_Patriots, YouTube – Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.