Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The UVa-Wise volleyball team wrapped up play at the West Liberty University/Wheeling Jesuit University Invitational in West Liberty, West Virginia, Saturday with a pair of losses. The Cavaliers (0-13) were defeated 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-16) by Slippery Rock University in the first match of the day, before Mercyhurst University handed UVa-Wise a 3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22) loss Saturday afternoon.
 
In the second match of the day, the Lakers (8-3) used 45 kills, 13 aces and 13 blocks to win three out of four sets against the Cavs. Hitting .225 for the match, including swinging .375 in the fourth set, Mercyhurst outhit an UVa-Wise team that posted a .163 attack percentage. The Cavs made 42 kills in the four sets, recorded nine aces and successfully blocked six Mercyhurst attacks.
 
UVa-Wise jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the opening set before four straight Mercyhurst points tied up the score at 9-9. The Cavs continued to put the pressure on the Lakers and led it by three at 15-12 before the set became a see-saw affair. However, Mercyhurst won eight of the last 11 points to win the set by a score of 25-20. UVa-Wise played a much better second set as they hit .370 and made 13 kills. Once again, the Cavs jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in the second set and extended their advantage to 17-10 before four consecutive Mercyhurst points made it 17-14. UVa-Wise would hold on for the 25-19 set win to even up the match at 1-1.
 
Mercyhurst grabbed a 12-7 lead in the third set before UVa-Wise got within two at 18-16. However, that would be as close as the Cavs would get in the set as the Lakers went on to win the set 25-18. Both teams went back and forth in the fourth set with UVa-Wise taking a 15-13 advantage before a string of Mercyhurst points put the Lakers up 21-17. The Cavs got within one at 23-22 but Mercyhurst claimed the last two points of the set to clinch the match with a 25-22 win.
 
Sophomore right side hitter Amanda Auxier (Midlothian, Va.) led the Cavs with 17 kills, while freshman setter Morgan Milligan (Bridgewater, Va.) posted a match-high 34 assists. Sophomore outside hitter Kyra Jessee (Weber City, Va.) served up four aces as senior right side hitter Simona Zduoba (Boyce, Va.) earned four blocks and senior libero Erin Lee (Fincastle, Va.) got to 13 digs.
 
Lauren Kenny and Haley Adams led the Lakers with nine and eight kills respectively. Mercyhurst's Alyssa Zirnheld tallied five aces, while Adams, Shelby Chesko and Alyssa King each made four blocks. Makayla Molle assisted on 20 of the Lakers' 45 kills as Samantha Giardina recorded a match-high 20 digs.
 
The Rock (6-6) hit 38 kills and registered an attack percentage of .289 to defeat UVa-Wise in the first match of the day. The Cavs were held to a -.009 hitting mark and were limited to 22 kills in the three-set sweep. Despite eight aces by UVa-Wise, Slippery Rock out blocked the Cavs 10-4 and made 13 fewer errors.
 
UVa-Wise trailed by just two at 10-8 before the Rock rattled off six-straight points to take a commanding 16-8 lead. Slippery Rock went on to win the opening set by a tally of 25-16. Despite being tied at 8-8, the Cavs quickly found themselves down 16-11 before getting within one at 18-17 and again at 20-19. However, the Rock went on to win five of the final six points to earn the 25-20 set win. UVa-Wise jumped out to an early 7-5 lead in what proved to be the final set and was tied with Slippery Rock at 14-14. However, the Rock won the final eight points of the set to clinch the match at 25-16.
 
Senior middle blocker Santana Bishop (Gate City, Va.) led the Cavs with six kills as Auxier added five more. Senior defensive specialist Erin Anderson (Richmond, Va.) and Lee each had three aces, while Milligan assisted on 20 of UVa-Wise's 22 kills. Anderson also posted a match-high 17 digs.
 
Leah Jones led the Rock with 15 kills as Brooke Bostwick and Kaley Fucci each earned a match-high five blocks. Slippery Rock's Zoe Rivet recorded 17 digs and Haley Defibaugh contributed 16 more, while Jones and Courtney Oberlander had 14 digs apiece.
 
The Cavs will have nearly a week off from competition before beginning Mountain East Conference play Friday at West Virginia State. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
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