Williamsburg, KY – The University of the Cumberlands volleyball team took the court for their home opener with a fast start winning the first two sets, however, it wouldn't be enough as they fell to Cumberland 3-2 (25-18, 26-24, 18-25, 21-25, 11-15). With the win, the Phoenix improve to 6-4 on the season, while the Patriots move to 8-3.

UC jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the first set behind kills from Lily Chapman and Mackenzie Koch. Cumberland took four of the next five points to take a 7-6 lead, however, the Patriots responded with three straight points to retake the lead. Cumberlands added a five-point run, which was capped off by a Leah Crist and Abbie Genders block, to extend their lead to 14-8. Koch added a pair of kills and an assisted block along with Olivia Verdecchia to give the Patriots a 20-12 edge. The two teams traded points until Genders notched an ace followed by an ace from Jessica Putnam to close out the set a give UC the 1-0 lead.
 

The second set was a back-and-forth battle that saw the score tied five times in the first ten points. The Phoenix tallied six straight points to take a 10-5 lead. Cumberlands rallied with a 4-1 run of their own, including a pair of kills from Ashley Sobocinski to cut the deficit to 11-9. The two teams continued to trade points as UC pulled within one point four times. With the score 18-17, Crist recorded a pair of kills to even the score at 18-18 and then 19-19. Juliet Montague found Sobocinski for the kill to put the Patriots in front, however, the set would be tied four more times. With the match even at 24-24, Koch notch two straight kills to close out the set and put Cumberlands in front 2-0.
 

Cumberland won the third set 25-18 and the fourth set 25-21 to force a deceive fifth set. The Phoenix jumped out to a 9-3 lead to start the fifth set and extended that lead to 13-5. Cumberlands started to rally Sobocinski and Crist each notched a kill to cut the deficit to 14-7. UC tallied four unanswered points to cut the deficit to 14-11 but it wouldn't be enough as Cumberland closed out the set 15-11 and the match 3-2.
 

Sobocinski led the way for UC with 13 kills and eight digs, while Chapman added 10 kills. Crist and Koch recorded three blocks a piece to go with nine and eight kills, respectfully. Anna Zuniga dished out 30 assists, while Montague finished with 16 digs in the match.
 

 The Patriots will return to action Tuesday, September 10, when they host ninth-ranked Lindsey Wilson in a Mid-South Conference showdown. First serve is set for 7 p.m. with live video available here and live stats available here. 
 

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