McKenzie, TN – Cumberlands rolling as they sweep Bethel 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-16). This win marks the start of a new three game win streak.

UC offense was led by Shelby Lackey. Lackey finished the game with six kills. Danielle Jackson and Olivia Verdecchia added four kills each. Anna Blumeier set a career high with four aces. Lexi Lester and Savanah Schwarz both came away with 10 assists. On the defensive side, Emily Prewitt controlled the play at the net coming up with a season high seven blocks. Also, Juliet Banks came away with 18 digs, while Blumeier came away with 10.

In a tightly contested first set, Lester got the UC offense started with a kill. After an ace from the wildcats, Lackey notched a kill. Lily Chapman then gave the Patriots the lead with an ace. Verdecchia put in two kills, followed by a Lackey kill. Next, Jackson and Lackey came together to get a block. Then Jackson notched a kill. UC then went on a 4-0 run. The run consisted of an ace by Chapman, kill by Verdecchia, and two errors by the Wildcats. Bethel then took a timeout. After the timeout, Prewitt and Verdecchia came together for back-to-back blocks and Chapman notched another ace. Blumeier ended the set with a kill.

Lackey started the second set with a kill. Prewitt was able to get a bead on the Wildcat offense coming away with three blocks, Chapman assisted on two of them and Verdecchia assisted on the other. Later in the set UC found themselves down 9-10, but a kill by Blumeier tied the game. Then Banks came away with two aces, and a block by Jackson and Blumeier gave UC control. To end the set Prewitt came away with two kills to get the Patriots to set point, and Verdecchia ended it with a kill.

UC was in control the whole the set, starting with a kill by Banks. Allyson Grava followed with an ace. Then Prewitt and Verdecchia came away with a block.  Two kills by Lackey and one by Prewitt opened up a six-point lead and UC never turned back.  To end the set, the Patriots went on a 5-1 run. The run featured three straight aces by Blumeier, and a kill by Jackson. UC got the last point of the set on a Wildcat attacking error.  

The Patriots move to 11-5 on the season and 4-2 in conference play. UC returns home to take on Shawnee State on Wednesday September 29 at 6 pm. For live video click here. For live stats click here.  

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