Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BRISTOL, Tenn. – The UVa-Wise volleyball team continued play at the King University Invitational Saturday and found themselves on the losing end of two matches, both against tough opponents. The Cavaliers (0-4) opened up the day with a hard-fought loss to Shorter University, claiming the second set but losing by a count of 3-1. In the afternoon, the Cavs were outmatched by a Tusculum College squad that defeated UVa-Wise 3-0.
 
A shaky start by the Cavs gave way to a very strong opening set by the undefeated, 4-0 Hawks in the morning's match. Shorter hit .650 in the first set without a single attack error en route to a 25-13 first-set victory. UVa-Wise quickly regrouped and competed fiercely in the second set, claiming game No. 2 25-23 after hitting .389 for the set.
 
The third set proved to be much different as Shorter continued its balanced offense and 10 attack errors haunted the Cavs. The Hawks claimed at 25-7 third-set win before a much closer fourth set ensued. However, UVa-Wise's six kills in what proved to be the final set were no match for 18 by Shorter. The Hawks earned the fourth set by a score of 25-22 to make the match final.
 
Shorter showed its ability to close out points with 56 kills for the match and 10 aces, compared to 35 kills and only one ace by UVa-Wise. The Hawks were led by Elizabeth Dowd with 12 kills, Cheyenne Frady, who served up four aces, and Cheyenne Frady with a match-high 25 assists. Senior outside hitter Karley Allen (Lanexa, Va.) shined for the Cavs, recording a match-high 18 kills and 14 digs to go along with three blocks. Freshman setter Morgan Milligan (Bridgewater, Va.) tallied a match-high 24 assists, while sophomore right side hitter Amanda Auxier (Midlothian, Va.) and senior middle blocker Santana Bishop (Gate City, Va.) each made three blocks.
 
Despite a strong first set that saw UVa-Wise record 15 kills, Tusculum prevailed with 12 kills of its own to take the opening set 25-21. Unfortunately, the first set would be as close as the Cavs would get to the Pioneers (3-1) for the rest of the match. Tusculum handed UVa-Wise 25-13 and 25-15 second and third-set losses, respectively.
 
The Pioneers finished with 34 kills, eight aces and six total blocks, compared to 25 kills, four aces and three total blocks by the Cavs. UVa-Wise was only able to manage a .039 attack percentage for the match and racked up 21 attack errors.
 
Tusculum's Cassie Born led the Pioneers with eight kills and three aces, while Rachel Garnett posted seven kills and Laryssa Welch and Mariah Lewis each made three blocks. Shannon Murphy dished out 16 assists for the Pioneers as Melissa Mazur collected a match-high 13 digs. Auxier paved the way for UVa-Wise with seven kills and Allen added six of her own to go along with a team-high 12 digs. Senior defensive specialist Erin Lee (Fincastle, Va.) contributed two aces and two blocks, while Milligan assisted on 21 kills.
 
Auxier was named to the King Invite All-Tournament Team Saturday night after registering 23 kills and six blocks in the Cavs' four matches this weekend. The sophomore averaged 1.77 kills per set and 0.46 blocks per set in 13 sets played.
 
The Cavs now travel to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, for the Shippensburg University Raider Classic starting Friday. UVa-Wise will face Virginia State and tournament host Shippensburg Friday before taking on Shepherd University and Philadelphia University in non-conference matches Saturday.
 
Visit uvawisecavs.com for all Cavalier volleyball news, statistics, complete schedule and more.