Bowling Green, KY – The second-seed Patriots volleyball team couldn't overcome an early deficit as they fell 3-1 (20-25, 16-25, 25-18, 20-25) to top-seed Lindsey Wilson Saturday afternoon in the finals of the MSC Tournament.  Cumberlands moves to 32-5 on the year, which is a program record for wins and winning percentage, after advancing the MSC Tournament finals for the second straight year.

Sara Zampedri led the way with 16 kills and 12 digs, while Allyson Grava added 12 kills.  Juliet Banks tallied 17 digs and seven assists, while Kendall Arold dished out 20 assists to go along with nine digs.  Savanah Jolly added 16 assists and 13 digs in the match.

The Blue Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the match after taking the first set 25-20 and the second set 25-16. 

Lindsey Wilson opened the third set with a 3-1 advantage, before Zampedri notched four kills as part of a 5-0 run to make it 6-3 UC.  The Blue Raiders responded with an 8-1 run, before back-to-back kills from Grava ignited a 6-1 Patriots run putting Cumberlands in front 14-13. After the two teams traded points, Allison Moneypenny notched a kill, while Zampedri tallied a pair of aces to extend UC's lead to 22-16.  Cumberlands closed out the set with a kill from Grava taking the set 25-18 and cutting the deficit to 2-1.

The Blue Raiders went on a 7-1 run to open the fourth set, before UC responded with three straight points to cut the deficit to 7-4.  Lindsey Wilson extended their lead to 15-8 before the Patriots began chipping away with a Rylie Depue kill.  Later in the set UC notched back-to-back kills from Kara Gipson and Faith Franklin to pull within five at 20-15. The Patriots added another three-point run to cut the deficit to 23-19, however that was the closed they came as Lindsey Wilson took the set 25-20 and the 3-1 final.

Cumberlands will now await the NAIA selection show, which will take place on Monday, November 18^th, at 1 p.m.

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