WISE  - - UVa-Wise volleyball rallied to defeat Lees-McRae College, 3-1 (25-19, 25-16, 27-29, 26-24), in the Cavaliers' home opener Tuesday evening.

The Cavs (2-9) were led by sophomore Madelyn Lawrence who posted 16 kills and hit .433 while fellow sophomore Brooke Abbott recorded 13 kills and five blocks on the night. Sophomore setter Makayla Ledford notched 48 of the Cavs 51 assists in the win.

UVa-Wise came out hot in set one, taking a 15-9 lead off an attack error by the Bobcats (3-10) before a Lees-McRae timeout. The Cavs would go up 20-15 on a kill by freshman Kelsey Green. A kill by freshman Matelyn Gibson would seal the first set with a 25-19 win for UVa-Wise.

The two teams would exchange leads early in the second set before a four-point run by the Bobcats put Lees-McRae ahead 10-6. UVa-Wise would climb back to tie the set 13-13 before going on a 6-0 run for a 19-13 advantage. The Cavs continued to hold the lead over Lees-McRae as UVa-Wise finished the third set with a 25-16 victory to take a 2-0 lead heading into the third set.

Set three was a battle as UVa-Wise and Lees-McRae traded the lead for most of the set before the Bobcats claimed a two-point lead late, 20-18, as the Cavs called a timeout. Back-to-back attack errors by the Bobcats would put UVa-Wise down just one point, 22-21, before back-to-back kills by Abbott and Green pulled the Cavs ahead, 23-22. A pair of attack errors by UVa-Wise would set the Cavs back once again, down 25-24 to the Bobcats late in the set. Abbott would tie the game for the Cavs at 27-27 but Lees-McRae would earn the win, 29-27, as the Cavs continued to lead, 2-1.

Heading into the fourth set, UVa-Wise trailed early, 13-8, but would continue to stay in the hunt as they fought back to a two-point deficit, 19-17. UVa-Wise and Lees-McRae would go back and forth but the Cavs would rally late for a 26-24 set four victory to win the game, 3-1.

UVa-Wise tallied 57 kills and 51 assists while Lees-McRae registered 51 kills and 48 assists in the loss.

The Cavs return to action as they open league play on the road against Glenville State Friday at 7 p.m. and West Virginia Wesleyan Saturday at 10 a.m.