West Palm Beach, FL – The #10 Cumberlands Volleyball team opened the 2026 season in impressive fashion Friday, earning a pair of straight-set victories at the Keiser University Invitational. The Patriots opened the day with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-10) sweep over Goshen College before taking down (RV) Texas Wesleyan 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-22). Across the two matches, UC combined for 78 kills and 16 service aces, while setter
Savanah Jolly recorded her 2,000th career assist against the Rams.
#10 UC Cruises Past Goshen, 3-0
Cumberlands was dominant offensively in its season opener, recording 39 kills with just five errors to hit .479 for the match.
Brynnley Bryant led the Patriots with 14 kills on a .367 clip and added two aces.
Sara Zampedri tallied nine kills while hitting .444, while
Alana Shiery added five kills on a .444 hitting percentage.
Faith Franklin was nearly flawless with four kills on five swings for an .800 clip.
Morgan Bentel dished out a team-high 18 assists in her UC debut while adding four digs and two aces.
The Patriots wasted little time finding their rhythm in the opening set, recording 18 kills while hitting .484. UC controlled the frame from the outset and used its balanced attack to pull away for a 25-17 victory. Bryant led the offense as Cumberlands established the tempo and took a one-set advantage.
Goshen kept the second set close early, but the Patriots' pressure eventually created separation. UC limited the Maple Leafs to eight kills and forced nine attack errors, holding Goshen to a -.045 hitting percentage in the frame. Cumberlands capitalized on those miscues while continuing to find points offensively, taking the second set 25-13 to move within one of the sweep.
The Patriots saved their most efficient set for last. After the teams exchanged the lead early, UC took control and never looked back. Cumberlands recorded 11 kills without committing an attack error, hitting .579 in the frame, while Goshen managed just four kills and hit -.053. The Patriots pulled away down the stretch for a 25-10 victory to complete their first sweep of the season.
#10 Patriots Sweep (RV) Texas Wesleyan, 3-0
UC carried its momentum into the second match of the day, defeating (RV) Texas Wesleyan in three sets. Bryant once again led the Patriots offensively, recording 17 kills and seven digs while accounting for 18.5 points.
Elaina Fischer added six kills on a .308 clip, while Zampedri finished with five kills and five digs.
Martina Frangella made an impact with three kills on five attempts, while Bentel led the back row with 17 digs.
Jolly took over the setting duties and finished with 29 assists, six digs, two kills, and two aces. During the victory, the senior setter reached 2,000 career assists, adding another milestone to her Patriot career.
The opening set featured eight ties and five lead changes as neither side was able to create much separation early. Cumberlands' offense found its rhythm as the set progressed, finishing with 17 kills on a .371 hitting percentage. UC broke away from the back-and-forth battle late and captured the opening frame 25-18.
Texas Wesleyan challenged the Patriots again in the second, with the score tied eight times. UC's defense helped turn the momentum as the Rams committed nine attack errors and were held to a -.053 hitting percentage in the set. Despite hitting just .088 themselves, the Patriots remained composed down the stretch and found enough offense to secure a 25-21 win and take a 2-0 advantage.
The Rams came out looking to extend the match in the third set, but UC answered each push. With four ties and one lead change in the frame, the Patriots relied on an efficient attack to take control, recording 12 kills on a .375 hitting percentage. Cumberlands held off Texas Wesleyan late to earn the 25-22 victory and finish off its second sweep of the day.
The Patriots continue play at the Keiser University Invitational on Saturday in West Palm Beach, FL at 4 p.m ET with the opponent yet to be determined.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit
www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
