McKenzie, TN – For the first time in program history, the 21
st-ranked Patriots volleyball team had multiple players record six aces in the same match as Cumberlands defeated Bethel 3-0 (25-17, 25-5, 25-11) Friday night at Crisp Arena. With the win, UC improves to 19-4 overall and 4-0 in conference play.
Sara Zampedri notched six aces in the match, including her 200
th career ace becoming just the third Patriot player to hit that milestone.
Kendall Yarber recorded a career-high six aces, while
Savanah Jolly added three. The Patriots finished with 19 aces in the match, which is the most under Head Coach Kathryn Park.
Brynnley Bryant paced UC offensive with 10 kills and a .346 hitting percentage, while
Martina Frangella added six blocks and five kills.
Alana Shiery and Jose Newcom combined for 9 kills and seven blocks. Jolly dished out 20 assists, while
Morgan Bentel made 13 digs.
UC took control from the start scoring five straight points, including a pair of aces by Zampedri. Bryant added a kill and a block alongside Frangella extending the lead to 9-1. The two teams traded points until UC went on a four-point run capped off with a block from Shiery to make it 19-10. Bethel pulled within six-points, however, a block from Zampedri and Frangella closed out the set 25-17.
The two teams traded points to open the second set before Jolly notched a pair of aces and an assist to Newcome giving UC the 7-1 advantage. Cumberlands added a four-point run that featured a pair of aces from Zampedri to extend their lead to 11-2. Yarber added a pair of aces as part of a five-point run making it 16-4. UC tallied the final nine points of the match on a run that included a trio of kills by Bryant, a trio of aces, and a pair of blocks for the 25-5 set score.
Cumberlands jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the third set as Zampedri and Jolly combined for three aces. A few points later, Frangella notched two kills and a block alongside
Elaina Fischer to extend the lead to 14-6. UC added an eight-point run that featured four aces from Yarber and was capped off with a Fischer kill giving the Pats the 22-8 lead. Shiery and Newcom combined for a block taking the set 25-11 and the 3-0 final.
The Patriots return to the court Saturday, October 3
rd, when they travel to Henderson, TN to face Freed-Hardeman. First serve is set for 2 p.m.
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