Box Score WISE, Va. – The UVa-Wise women's volleyball team was handed a defeat for the first time this season in Wise Saturday afternoon as the visiting Lady Bobcats of West Virginia Wesleyan swept the Cavaliers, 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-23).
 
The defeat also marks the Cavs (9-8, 5-1 MEC) first loss against Mountain East Conference opponents this year. The Lady Bobcats (8-11, 2-4 MEC) snapped a three-match winning streak for the Cavs and is only UVa-Wise's second loss in the past eight matches.
 
The loss is the Cavs first setback at home since Oct. 24 of 2014 when UVa-Wise fell to nationally ranked Wheeling Jesuit University (3-0).
 
UVa-Wise and West Virginia Wesleyan went back and forth in the opening set as neither team seemed to be able to string together more than two points in a row. With the score tied at 21-all in the first set West Virginia Wesleyan earned four points in a row off of two kills, a service ace and a Cavs' error to take the opening set 25-21.
 
The second set proved to be more difficult for the Cavs as they were only able to record 17 points in the set. The Lady Bobcats took control early building a 12-6 lead on the Cavs and never looked back, winning the second set 25-17.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the third set before the Cavs responded to make it a one-point game at 5-4, however, the Lady Bobcats extended their lead to 14-9. Once again the Cavs came back to make it 17-16 off of a West Virginia Wesleyan attack error. The Lady Bobcats then won five of the next six points in a row to take a 22-17 lead. The Cavs did not go away easily at the end of the third set as UVa-Wise won six of the next eight points to force a West Virginia Wesleyan timeout at 24-23. Holding match point the Lady Bobcats needed just one kill from Caitlin Churn to claim the third set and thwart the Cavs hopes of a comeback.
 
The Cavs were only able to make 35 kills in the match compared to the Lady Bobcats' 51. UVa-Wise hit .168 while West Virginia Wesleyan held an attack percentage of .322 for the match. The Cavs recorded 31 assists, 39 digs and three team blocks as the Lady Bobcats tallied 47 assists, 52 digs, five team blocks and two aces.
 
Junior outside hitter Karley Allen led the Cavs once again with a match-high 15 kills as freshman outside hitter Ciara Kain played a solid match with nine kills and an attack percentage of .304.
 
Junior libero Erin Lee registered 10 digs for the Cavs while Allen and junior defensive specialist Erin Anderson each added seven digs. Freshman setter Chandler Rouse dished in 15 assists and senior outside hitter Kelsey Smith registered a career-high 14 assists.
 
Stacie Baumann led West Virginia Wesleyan with 13 kills followed by Shannon Gregorek with 12 and Hannah Moore with 11. Katlyn Buckland made 27 assists for the Lady Bobcats as Katlyn Hoge recorded 14 digs and Moore contributed nine more.
 
The Cavs will now step out of conference play and hit the road to take part in a tri-match Tuesday in Banner Elk, North Carolina. UVa-Wise will face host Lees-McRae College at 3 p.m. before taking on Brevard College at 5 p.m.
 
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