Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots volleyball team have carried their strong start into conference play as they swept Pikeville 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-3) in the MSC opener Thursday night in the UC Volleyball Gym.  With the win, UC improves to 11-3 overall on the season and have now won seven straight matches.

Allyson Grava led the way for UC with 13 kills and five digs, while Kira Ervin and Anna Blumeier each notched six kills in the win.  Juliet Banks was one of five Patriot players with at least five digs in the match as she recorded a team-high nine.  Kendall Arnold dished out 31 assists to go along with seven digs, while Danielle Jackson and Lexi Lester notched five and four aces, respectively. 

The Patriots got off to a quick start as Allyson Grava tallied a kill, before Lexi Lester made a service ace to put UC in front 2-0.  After the two teams traded points, Cumberlands went on a 6-1 run that included kills from Grava, Kira Ervin, and Shelby Lackey to put UC in front 9-3.  UPike cut the lead to 9-6, before the Patriots responded with a four-point run capped off by a Juliet Banks service ace to make it 13-6.  Grava added three more kills to give UC a 19-9 advantage.  The Patriots capped off the set scoring six of the final seven points, including a kill by Shelby Lackey to take the set 25-12 and the 1-0 lead.

UC continued their strong play into the second set taking the first four points, including an ace from Danielle Jackson.  The Bear took three of the next four points, however, Ervin led the Patriots response with three kills to extend the lead to 9-3.  The reigning NAIA Attacker of the Week Anna Blumeier and Danielle Jackson each notched a pair of kills to give UC a 16-6 advantage.  Jackson added a pair of aces to become the third Patriot with three aces in the match and extend the lead to 19-7.  Pikeville battled back taking four of the next five points, however, Arnold connected with Ervin to make it 21-12.  Ervin and Jackson teamed for a block, while each added a kill as UC took the second set 25-17.

Cumberlands utilized a three-point and a six-point run, that included four aces to take a commanding 9-1 lead in the third set.  Grava notched two more kills and an ace as the Patriots extended their lead to 15-3.  The Goodlettsville, TN native continued to serve as UC added ten unanswered points, including kills from Lackey, Mary Schneidtmiller, and Blumeier to give Cumberlands the set 25-3 and the match 3-0. 

The win is Cumberlands seventh consecutive, which is the longest win streak since 2016.  It is also the third time that the Patriots won seven straight matches under Head Coach Kathryn Hart.

UC will return to the court Saturday, September 10, when they travel to Portsmouth, OH to face Shawnee State.  The match is set for 3 p.m.

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