DUE WEST, S.C. - - UVa-Wise volleyball dropped both of its matches on the final day of the Fleet Classic Volleyball Tournament. The Cavaliers (0-5) fell in game one against Lander University, 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-13) before losing in four sets to North Greenville University, 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 26-24, 25-13), Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Brooke Abbott led UVa-Wise in the first game with five kills while sophomore Makayla Ledford posted 13 assists for the Cavaliers.
Lander (5-1) started the game with a 6-1 run to put the Cavaliers down early, but UVa-Wise would respond with their own run to trail by one point, 8-7 in the first set. A huge eight-point run for the Bearcats would put Lander up by 11 points late in the set, 20-9, before winning the first set, 25-12.
The Bearcats sustained momentum as Lander took set two, 25-10, and posted a 25-13 third set victory before sweeping the Cavs in game one.
The Cavs recorded 16 kills, 14 assists and a pair of aces while Lander tallied 33 kills and 30 assists in the match.
UVa-Wise looked to reset heading into game two, but would fall short in a close match as they lost by only two points in both the second and third set.
Senior Ciara Kain emerged as the leader for the Cavs in game two as she notched 18 kills, followed by sophomore Madelyn Lawrence who posted 10 kills. Freshman Kelsey Green had eight kills for the Cavs as Ledford added 45 assists in the match.
UVa-Wise held an early lead in the first set, but North Greenville would utilize a four-point run to knot set one at 17-17. The two teams would continue to exchange leads before the Crusaders took set one, 25-21.
The Cavs started set two up early once again before the Crusaders came back to tie the set at 13-13. A pair of three-point runs for North Greenville would give them a four-point lead late in the set, 20-16. Down by one point, UVa-Wise's Gibson would tie the match for the Cavs followed by a kill by Kain to give UVa-Wise a one-point lead. An attack error by the Crusaders would close out the set as the Cavs won the second, 26-24.
It was another close one in the third set as UVa-Wise looked to take the lead in the match. A service ace by Kyra Jesse would tie the game at 15-15, but a 5-1 rally by North Greenville would put the Crusaders ahead 20-16. Back-to-back attack errors by North Greenville gave UVa-Wise a 23-22 advantage, but the Crusaders would pull ahead late to take the third set, 26-24.
Another quick start by the Crusaders in the fourth set would have the Cavs trailing early, 16-10. North Greenville would continue to extend its lead before completing a 25-13 set four win.
UVa-Wise recorded 54 kills and 51 assists in the loss while North Greenville had 58 kills and 55 assists.
Volleyball is back at it on Tuesday, Sept. 4, as they take on King University on the road. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
