Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BRISTOL, Tenn. – The UVa-Wise volleyball team began the 2016 season Friday at the King University Invitational with a pair of losses to Newberry College and Lincoln Memorial University. The Wolves (1-1) defeated the Cavaliers (0-2) 3-0 in the morning match before the Railsplitters (1-1) earned a 3-0 victory over UVa-Wise this afternoon.
 
Newberry used a .242 attack percentage and 34 total kills to get the win against the Cavs. Conversely, UVa-Wise was only able to hit .032 for the match, falling 25-22 in set one, 25-20 in set two and 25-13 in the third and final set. The Wolves held the Cavs to under a .000 hitting percentage in the last two sets and out blocked UVa-Wise 6-1. Newberry hit .407 in the final set and collected 13 kills as a team.
 
Led by Mary Siebert with nine kills, Newberry saw Logan Hayward and Andie Meredith earn seven kills each, while Sidra Triplett made a match-high five blocks. Hayward also had four aces for the Wolves. Sophomore outside hitter Eustaica Smith (Dugspur, Va.) led the Cavs against Newberry with six kills as sophomore right side hitter Amanda Auxier (Midlothian, Va.) had five kills and senior middle blocker Santana Biship (Gate City, Va.) finished with four. Freshman setter Morgan Milligan (Bridgewater, Va.) dished out a team-high 11 assists in her first collegiate game, while sophomore outside hitter Ciara Kain (Leesburg, Va.) made a match-high 16 digs. In her first contest as a Cav, freshman setter Caitlynn Doss (Abingdon, Va.) served up a team-high three aces.
 
In the Cavs' second match of the day, LMU seemed to keep UVa-Wise out of rhythm and off balance. After a somewhat close, 25-17, opening set that went the way of the Railsplitters, LMU continued its momentum to earn a 25-14 second-set win and a 25-11 third-set victory.
 
The Railsplitters kept the Cavs in check by holding UVa-Wise to a negative attack percentage while hitting .212 for the match, including staying above the .300 mark the final two sets. With 27 kills and nine blocks of its own, LMU forced UVa-Wise to commit 26 attack errors.
 
Samantha Cash and Kiera Holland led the way for LMU with six kills apiece as Jamie Jehne made five kills and earned a match-high six blocks. The Railsplitters got a match-high 16 assists and five of their seven aces from Abby Cash. Auxier, Smith and Kain led the way for the Cavs offensively with Amanda collecting six kills and Eustaica and Ciara claiming four each. Senior defensive specialist Erin Anderson (Richmond, Va.) recorded two aces and two blocks, while Auxier added two more blocks and Milligan assisted on 14 of the Cavs' 21 kills. Senior libero Erin Lee (Fincastle, Va.) made a team-high six digs along with freshman defensive specialist Briana Kerr (Virginia Beach, Va.), who was playing in just her second collegiate volleyball match.
 
The Cavs will continue play at the King Invite tomorrow with a 10 a.m. match against Shorter University and a 3 p.m. tilt with Tusculum College. Both matches will be played at King's old Kline Gymnasium.
 
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