Box Score CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Despite winning the opening set 25-22, the UVa-Wise women's volleyball team was unable to earn another set against the University of Charleston Friday night and fell 3-1 (22-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-21) on the road.
 
The loss is the Cavaliers (14-14, 9-4) fourth straight and third consecutive Mountain East Conference defeat after setbacks against Wheeling Jesuit University (3-1) a week ago and Concord University (3-2) this past Tuesday. Tonight's match was a pivotal league matchup as Charleston now improves to 16-8 overall and 11-2 in conference play, only a half-game behind Fairmont State for second place in the MEC standings. After the loss the Cavs still sit in fourth place in the conference tournament race.
 
In a close first set the Cavs began to pull away from the Golden Eagles at 18-15 and continued their lead to 22-18 before Charleston won three consecutive points to make it a one-point game at 22-21. UVa-Wise then won three of the next four points as junior middle blocker Santana Bishop made a kill to give the Cavs the opening 25-22 and a 1-0 match lead.
 
From there things did not go the way of the Cavs. Charleston jumped out to a 9-3 lead on UVa-Wise in the second set and continued their momentum to a 13-5 advantage. The Golden Eagles won six consecutive points on the Cavs to lead 19-6 before UVa-Wise won five of the final 10 points of the set. However, it was not enough as Charleston claimed the second set 25-12 to tie the match at a set apiece.
 
The third set was only slightly better for the visiting Cavs as Charleston once again jumped out to an early lead and led the entirety of the set. Down 19-11 UVa-Wise won seven of the next 13 points but the six Golden Eagles' points was enough for Charleston to take the third 25-18 and a 2-1 match lead.
 
The Cavs took a quick 3-1 lead in the fourth set before the Golden Eagles scored 12 of 13 points in a row to take a 13-4 lead. Charleston held a 16-6 advantage when UVa-Wise stormed back to tie up the set at 18-18. From there the Golden Eagles won six of the next seven points to hold match point at 24-19. The Cavs won two points in a row off of Charleston attack errors but the Golden Eagles then earned the set victory after a kill by Payton Logan to clinch the match 3-1.
 
UVa-Wise made 40 total kills off of hitting .112, while host Charleston made 56 kills with an attack percentage of .275. Both teams had six aces in the match as the Cavs collected 58 digs, 39 assists and six total team blocks. The Golden Eagles had 65 digs, 51 assists and 11 total team blocks.
 
Junior outside hitter Karley Allen led the Cavs on both offense and defense with 16 kills and 23 digs, while freshman outside hitter Ciara Kain added 11 kills. Bishop made three blocks in the match as senior outside hitter Kelsey Smith tallied 14 digs and junior Erin Anderson contributed 10 digs. Freshman setter Chandler Rouse registered 37 assists for the Cavs in the four sets.
 
Jordan Wittekind led the Golden Eagles with 12 kills while both Mia Herrod and Randi Estrada added 10 more. Payton Logan and McKensie Milam each had 14 digs for Charleston as Shiann White recorded 13 digs.
 
Tomorrow the Cavs will continue their five-match MEC road trip by taking on the Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State in Institute, West Virginia, at 1 p.m.
 
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