Wilmore, KY – The University of the Cumberlands volleyball team came into the game leading the NAIA with 85 blocks and the Patriots strong defense continued as they recorded a program-record 21 team blocks to defeat Asbury 3-2 (17-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-16, 15-13) Thursday night.
Leah Crist notched a program record 14 blocks in the game, which is the most in the NAIA this season.
The Patriots (7-2) battled from behind throughout the match trailing 0-1 and 2-1 before rallying to extend their win streak to five straight matches. In addition to Crist,
Abbie Genders tallied a career-high eight blocks as
Mackenzie Koch chipped in six blocks which was one off her career-high. Offensively,
Ashley Sobocinski led the way with 14 kills, while Genders and Koch finished with 12 and 11 kills, respectfully.
Trailing 1-0 after the first set, UC came out strong in the second recording four straight blocks to take a 6-1 edge. Asbury rallied to even the score at 9-9 before
Anna Zuniga converted a kill to put UC back in front. After the match was tied two more times Cumberlands utilized a 5-0 run, including a pair of kills from Genders, to take a 17-12 advantage. The Patriots added three more blocks to take a 24-19 as
Rachel Scott converted a service ace to cap off the set and even the match at 1-1.
Asbury won the 25-19 to take a 2-1 advantage. The fourth set began with the two teams trading points until UC strung together four straight points to take a 10-4 lead. Asbury cut the lead to 11-9 but that way the closest the Eagles came as Crist made consecutive blocks to extend Cumberlands lead five. UC added a 5-0 run, which included kills from Genders,
Lily Chapman, and Koch, later in the set to extend their lead to 22-14. Zuniga dished out three more assists, including connecting with Sobocinski for the set winner and force a fifth set.
Zuniga added a pair of assists to begin the fifth set and put UC in front 2-1. After trading points Koch recorded two kills and block to give Cumberlands a 7-3 lead. Sobocinski followed with another kill to put the Patriots in front 8-4 at the switch. Zuniga followed with a pair of service aces to give Cumberlands an 11-5 advantage. Asbury battled back scoring six of the next eight points to cut UC's lead to 13-11. Genders notched two more kills to close out the set, 15-13, and clinch the match 3-2.
The 21 team blocks is tied for the most blocks in the NAIA this season.
Jennifer Stein notched a team-high 15 digs and three aces, while
Juliet Montague finished with 14 digs. Zuniga dished out a career-high 37 assists and added two kills and four blocks in the match.
The Patriots will return to action Saturday, August 31, when they travel to Athens, TN to face Tennessee Wesleyan in their final match before the start of conference play. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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