WISE – UVa-Wise battled in a tough match against Carson-Newman University Friday evening as the Cavs fell to the Eagles, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-18).

After the Eagles (18-6, 12-5 SAC) pulled ahead to a 15-6 lead over the Cavs, UVa-Wise (1-21, 0-17 SAC) took a timeout to regroup. The Cavs came out of the break to win the next four points and cut the deficit. A 5-1 run for UVa-Wise put Carson-Newman ahead by just one point, 18-17. Sophomore Abigail Byington tied the match shortly after on a kill, 21-21, but the Eagles used a 4-0 run to end the set with a 25-21 victory.

Another hot start for Carson-Newman put UVa-Wise down 11-4 as the Cavs called their first timeout of the second set. The Eagles took a double-digit advantage later in the set, 21-11, but UVa-Wise used a fierce effort to rally from behind, trailing 23-18. Carson-Newman went on to take set two, 25-20.

The third set was back-and-forth early until a series of kills by the Eagles gave Carson-Newman a 14-8 advantage over the Cavs. A kill by sophomore Kelsey Green put UVa-Wise within five points late in the set, but the Eagles maintained the advantage as Carson-Newman earned a 25-18 set three win.

Senior Morgan Milligan posted a match-high 26 assists as she notched her 1,500th career assist during the match. Milligan added 13 digs, three kills, and an assisted block on the night. Sophomores Matelyn Gibson and Kelsey Green led the Cavs in kills as they each tallied nine while Gibson also added nine digs. Senior Briana Kerr recorded a team-high 15 digs while redshirt senior Ciara Kain and Green followed with 11 digs apiece.

Head coach Kristen Salyer's team will hit the road for a 2 p.m. match Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Memorial University.