Williamsburg, KY – The #10 Cumberlands Volleyball team made the most of its first home action of the 2026 season Friday, collecting a pair of sweeps as part of the Cumberlands Tri-Match inside the UC Volleyball Gym. The Patriots opened the day with a 3-0 (25-6, 25-11, 25-12) victory over Andrew College before defeating Bluefield 3-0 (25-11, 25-8, 25-9) to improve to 5-1 on the season. Across the two matches, UC tallied 70 kills, 28 service aces, and 16 total blocks. The day was also highlighted by
Sara Zampedri recording her 1,000th career dig during the win over Bluefield.
#10 UC Cruises Past Andrew in Home Opener, 3-0
Cumberlands opened its home slate with an efficient offensive performance, tallying 39 kills against just eight errors to hit .425 for the match.
Sara Zampedri led the attack with 10 kills on 15 swings for a .600 hitting percentage, while
Brynnley Bryant added eight kills on a .467 clip.
Martina Frangella chipped in five kills and six total blocks, while
Alana Shiery and
Elaina Fischer each recorded four kills.
Savanah Jolly directed the offense with 27 assists and five digs, while
Morgan Bentel anchored the back row with a match-high 11 digs. Bentel also led the Patriots from the service line with five aces as UC finished with 12 aces as a team.
The Patriots wasted no time taking control of the opening set, turning in a nearly flawless offensive performance. UC recorded 16 kills without an attack error on 22 attempts to hit .727 in the frame. Cumberlands controlled the set from the outset and never allowed Andrew to find a rhythm, holding the Tigers to two kills and a -.217 hitting percentage en route to the 25-6 win.
Andrew stayed closer early in the second set, but UC quickly created separation. The Patriots continued to pressure the Tigers from the service line while their defense forced eight attack errors. Cumberlands limited Andrew to a -.190 hitting percentage and pulled away for a 25-11 victory to take a 2-0 advantage.
UC closed the match with another strong performance in the third. The Patriots recorded 14 kills in the frame as Zampedri, Bryant, and the UC attack continued to find openings. Andrew managed just five kills, and Cumberlands maintained control down the stretch to secure the 25-12 win and complete the sweep in its home opener.
Patriots Roll Past Bluefield, 3-0
Cumberlands carried its momentum into the second match and turned in an even more efficient performance, hitting .500 with 31 kills and only four attack errors. Zampedri led the way once again, recording 13 kills on 17 swings for a .706 hitting percentage while adding nine digs. Bryant finished with seven kills without an error to hit .500 and added a career-high six service aces.
Shiery added five kills and three block assists, while Frangella tallied two kills on two swings and three blocks. Jolly dished out 27 assists to go along with two aces and two blocks. The Patriots were dominant from the service line, finishing with a season-high 16 aces, led by Bryant's six, while
Autiana Wilson and Bentel added three apiece.
The Rams stayed within striking distance early in the first set, but UC's pressure quickly took its toll. The Patriots recorded 10 kills while forcing Bluefield into 11 attack errors and a -.152 hitting percentage. Cumberlands steadily stretched its advantage before cruising to a 25-11 opening-set victory.
UC became even more efficient in the second, committing just one attack error and hitting .562. The Patriots combined their offense with continued pressure from the service line, while Bluefield was held to four kills. Cumberlands pulled away for a 25-8 victory to move within one set of its second sweep of the day.
The Patriots saved their best offensive frame for the finale, connecting for 11 kills with only one error on 15 swings to hit .667. Cumberlands limited Bluefield to two kills and forced seven attack errors as the Rams hit -.263 in the set. UC closed out the 25-9 win to complete its second sweep of the day and improve to 5-1 on the season.
Cumberlands will return to the court on Friday, August 28, when the Patriots travel to Kokomo, IN, for the IU Kokomo Tournament.
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