Williamsburg, KY – Behind monster performances from multiple Patriots, the UC volleyball team pulled out a win in a five-set battle at 3-2 (21-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-16, 15-10) against Shawnee State at the UC Volleyball Complex on Monday night. Following the win, Cumberlands improves to 8-11 overall and 6-8 in MSC play.
Savanah Schwarz was able to surpass her previous career-high in assists as she notched 59 tonight to go with her 13 digs. Lily Chapman also had a great night from the outside as she was able to match her career-high with 22 kills and 29 digs. In their breakout match of the season, Kira Ervin and Emily Prewitt were both able to post career-highs as they both snagged 16 kills apiece.
The Patriots go out of the gate slow against the Bear and dropped the first set at 25-21, which allowed the Bears to go up 1-0 for the match, but really settled into their offense in set two. UC was able to tie the score up at 3-3 after they hammered through back-to-back kills from Chapman and Danielle Jackson. Cumberlands would go on to continue the momentum later into the set as they embarked on an 11-5 run that was highlighted by a Jackson service ace that extended the UC lead to 14-8. A few possessions later, Prewitt and Schwarz were able to connect for the kill/assist combo that enlarged the Patriots lead to 20-11. To end the second set, Cumberlands would score on two continuous possessions that was spearheaded by yet another Prewitt kill, which allowed them to win the set at 25-18 and tie the match score up at 1-1.
Similar to the first set, UC struggled throughout the third set and, unfortunately, would drop it at 25-19, which allowed the Bears to go up 2-1 on the match. Nevertheless, the Patriots maintained composure and dominated the Bears in the following set. To start the fourth, Cumberlands was able to hop out to a quick 5-1 lead as the Bears committed numerous attack errors. UC kept their foot on the gas for the next few possessions as Ervin and Prewitt were able to slam through consecutive kills, all were assisted by Schwarz, which gave the Patriots the 9-2 advantage. Despite a small run by the Bears, UC resumed their stellar play following yet another Ervin kill that made the score 19-13 with Cumberlands in the lead. To finish the fourth and force a decisive fifth set, Ervin secured the final kill after a beautiful assist from Schwarz that put the score at 25-16 and the match score at 2-2.
To start the final set, both teams would go on to trade points until Prewitt tied it up at 5-5 with a thunderous kill. Chapman was up next for UC as she grabbed four kills during a 7-0 run that kept the Patriots in the driver's seat at 12-5. Although, the Bears would not lie down as they went on a 5-2 run that cut the Cumberlands lead to 14-10, but it was not enough as the Bears committed an attack error for the last point of the match. With the fifth set score sitting at 15-10 and the match score at 3-2, the Patriots were able to walk away with the win.
The Patriots will return to the court for their matchup against Life University at the UC Volleyball Complex on Thursday, April 1 at 7:00 PM.
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