West Palm Beach, FL – The #10 Patriots split a pair of matches Saturday to close out the Keiser University Invitational. UC opened the day with its third consecutive sweep, taking down #9 Mount Vernon Nazarene 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-19) to advance to the Gold Bracket Championship. The Patriots then battled Southeastern through five sets before falling 3-2 (25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 23-25, 7-15), moving their record to 3-1 on the season.
#10 UC Sweeps #9 Mount Vernon Nazarene, 3-0
Cumberlands turned in its most efficient offensive performance of the day against the ninth-ranked Cougars, recording 48 kills on a .409 hitting percentage.
Brynnley Bryant led the way with 16 kills while hitting .467 and added five digs.
Sara Zampedri followed with 10 kills on a .364 clip, while
Elaina Fischer recorded eight kills and hit .538.
Alana Shiery added seven kills and four block assists as UC totaled 12 block assists in the win.
Savanah Jolly directed the offense with 38 assists to go along with seven digs, three kills, and an ace.
Morgan Bentel led the Patriots with eight digs, while Zampedri also recorded seven.
The opening set went back-and-forth early, featuring four ties and four lead changes. UC's offense began to create separation as the frame progressed, finishing with 18 kills on a .412 hitting percentage. Bryant provided the spark offensively, while Fischer and Shiery helped control the net as the Patriots pulled away for the 25-21 win.
Cumberlands carried its efficiency into the second set, recording 16 kills with just three attack errors to hit .419. The teams traded the advantage twice early before the Patriots established control. UC's balanced attack kept the Cougars from mounting a comeback as Cumberlands secured the 25-19 victory and moved within one set of the sweep.
The Patriots took command early in the third and never surrendered the lead. Bryant, Zampedri, Fischer, and Shiery continued to provide offensive options for Jolly as UC hit .393 with 14 kills. Meanwhile, the Patriots held Mount Vernon Nazarene to a .129 clip in the frame. Cumberlands closed out another 25-19 win to complete its third straight sweep and earn a spot in the Gold Bracket Championship.
Patriots Fall to Southeastern in Five-Set Gold Bracket Championship
Cumberlands opened the championship match by taking the first two sets before Southeastern rallied for a 3-2 victory. Bryant led UC with 15 kills, while Zampedri recorded 13 kills and 22 digs. Fischer added 12 kills on a team-best .345 hitting percentage, while
Martina Frangella finished with six kills and five solo blocks.
Jolly posted an all-around performance with 45 assists, 24 digs, and five kills on a .400 clip. Bentel added a career-high 23 digs and two aces, while
Autiana Wilson finished with 16 digs. UC recorded 100 digs and 12 total blocks in the five-set battle.
The first set featured seven ties and three lead changes as neither side could create much separation. With the teams battling down the stretch, UC found the points it needed late to edge Southeastern 25-23 and grab the early advantage.
The second frame followed a similar script with six ties and two lead changes. Cumberlands and Southeastern traded points deep into the set before the Patriots prevailed in extra points. UC recorded 15 kills in the frame and held off the Fire for a 30-28 victory to take a 2-0 match lead.
Southeastern responded in a tightly contested third set that featured 15 ties and four lead changes. The Patriots battled throughout the frame, but the Fire broke through late for a 25-23 win to extend the match.
The fourth remained close as UC looked to close out the championship. Cumberlands recorded 15 kills in the frame, but Southeastern again made the plays it needed down the stretch, taking another 25-23 decision to force a fifth set.
Southeastern carried its momentum into the deciding frame and grabbed control early. The Fire held UC to four kills in the fifth and pulled away for a 15-7 win, handing the Patriots their first loss of the season.
Cumberlands closes the Keiser University Invitational with a 3-1 record, highlighted by three consecutive sweeps to begin the season and a top-10 victory over #9 Mount Vernon Nazarene.
Cumberlands will return to action on Friday, August 21, for its 2026 home opener against Bluefield. First serve is set for 11 a.m. inside the UC Volleyball Gym.
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