WISE - - Cavalier volleyball outlasted Milligan College 3-2 (19-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-15, 15-12) in their home opener Wednesday night. UVa-Wise came from behind to win the last three sets of the match and earn the victory over the Buffs. The Cavs posted 89 digs and 61 kills in the contest.

The Cavaliers opened up the match down early, 0-3, before UVa-Wise chipped away at the Buffs lead and tied the score, 8-8, in the first set. The Cavs scored four unanswered points, taking a 12-8 lead. Milligan was able to come back to tie the set, 15-15. The Buffs would go on a 5-0 run, forcing the Cavaliers to take their second timeout of the set. UVa-Wise only scored four more points before Milligan won the first set, 25-19.

UVa-Wise started out strong in the second set, taking a 14-8 lead before a Milligan College timeout. The Buffs were able to come back in the set and get within two points, 16-14, before the Cavaliers took a timeout. The Cavs posted four blocks in the second set as the Buffs won by a score of 25-23.

The Cavs toggled the lead with Milligan for much of the third set before taking a 14-9 lead, causing the Buffs to take a timeout. The Cavaliers followed the timeout going on a 4-0 run as they took a dominant 18-9 lead over the Buffs. Junior Ciara Kain would seal the set with a kill, assisted by sophomore Morgan Milligan, as the Cavs won the set, 25-17.

The Cavaliers looked unstoppable as they went on a 4-0 run to start the fourth set. Later in the set, Milligan College was able to cut the lead down to get within four points, 16-12. Following a timeout by the Buffs, UVa-Wise scored four unanswered points, forcing Milligan to take their second timeout of the set. The Cavs only allowed the Buffs to score three more points before UVa-Wise took the fourth set, 25-15.

The Cavaliers fell behind early in the fifth set before tying the match, 7-7. UVa-Wise and the Buffs tied again at 10-10 before the Cavs took over the set. The Buffs would only score two more points as Kain registered back-to-back kills to win the set for the Cavs, 15-12.

Kain led the team in both kills and digs, logging 27 kills and 22 digs in the match. Milligan posted a match-high 47 assists in the Cavs win over Milligan College.

UVa-Wise will return to action next week as they travel to Banner Elk, N.C. to take on Lees-McRae College on Wednesday, Sept. 20. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.