Box Score SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – The UVa-Wise women's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (26-28, 25-18, 25-23, 25-17) Mountain East Conference decision on the road Thursday night at Shepherd University.
 
With the loss the Cavaliers (15-15, 10-5 MEC) are locked into the No. 4 seed in the upcoming MEC Volleyball Tournament next week. The Cavs have now lost five of their past six matches as the Rams improve to 14-16 overall and 8-7 in conference play.
 
Despite claiming the first set 28-26 the Cavs were not able to maintain their lead, falling in each of the following three sets. The Cavs were down set point in the opening set at 24-23 before claiming two consecutive points to hold set point themselves at 25-24. From there the two teams exchanged points before the Cavs strung together two points in a row at 26-all to claim the set.
 
Shepherd jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the second set and never looked back. The Cavs rattled off three points in a row twice but were not able to overcome the deficit, dropping the set 25-18.
 
Much like the second set the Rams took a big, early 9-3 lead in the third before UVa-Wise stormed back and won nine of 11 points in a row to take a 13-2 lead. The Cavs continued to lead at 19-18 before the score was tied up at 19-all and 20-all. At 21-21 Shepherd claimed four of the next six points to win the third set 25-23 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
In the fourth set the Cavs jumped out to a 5-3 lead that was short lived after the Rams rattled off seven points in a row to take a 10-5 advantage. UVa-Wise came back to win five consecutive points and tie up the score at 10-10. The Cavs owned a 13-12 lead but were then held to only four points in the final 17 points of the match as the Rams took the fourth 25-17 to clinch the match 3-1.
 
UVa-Wise was outhit .147 to .239 in the match while the Cavs made 42 kills compared to the Rams' 57. The Cavs earned 57 digs in the match and 38 assists to go along with nine total team blocks and nine aces. Shepherd made 67 digs in the four sets, 53 assists, eight aces and seven total team blocks.
 
Junior outside hitter Karley Allen had another outstanding game for the Cavs, recording 19 kills and 16 digs. Junior Erin Anderson tallied 16 digs while junior middle blocker Santana Bishop registered nine kills to go along with six total blocks. Freshman setter Chandler Rouse added 36 assists for UVa-Wise in the four sets.
 
Taylor Allen led the Rams offensively with 15 kills as Amanda Snowden contributed 12 of her own. Kelsey Anderson made 15 digs for Shepherd while Allison Crumling totaled 12 digs and Cyera 1Dixon had a match-high 50 assists.
 
The Cavs will now finish up their five-match MEC road trip tomorrow evening when they visit Fairmont State for a 6:30 p.m. first serve. Friday's match will also end UVa-Wise's regular season before the Cavs compete in next week's MEC Volleyball Tournament.
 
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