WISE - - Cavalier volleyball battled but fell to Lenoir-Rhyne University in four sets, 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 25-19, 25-22), Friday night.

After tying the match several times, the Bears pulled ahead 13-8 over UVa-Wise. A 5-0 run put UVa-Wise down by just three points, 19-16, later in the set. Lenoir-Rhyne captured the final three points of the set to take the first one, 25-18.

The Bears (7-1, 3-1 SAC) took the advantage to start the second set, going ahead by six points midway through the set. UVa-Wise was unable to overcome the deficit with a 25-20 set two loss.

UVa-Wise (1-5, 0-4 SAC) continued its momentum into the third set as the Cavs posted an early lead over the Bears. The two teams knotted the match several times before UVa-Wise came out on top, 25-19, in a thrilling third set victory.

Lenoir-Rhyne regained its momentum into the fourth set, going ahead 12-7 to start. A 4-0 run by the Cavs put UVa-Wise down by just three points later in the set as the Bears called a timeout. The two teams knotted the set twice before the Cavs regained the advantage. Lenoir-Rhyne completed the comeback, however, as the Bears took the set 25-22 for a 3-1 match win.

Junior Brooke Abbott had an impressive performance with 13 kills and a .455 hitting percentage. Redshirt senior Ciara Kain added nine kills with 15 digs while sophomore Matelyn Gibson finished with 16 digs and six kills.

Junior Makayla Ledford tallied a team-high 39 assists as senior Morgan Milligan notched 26 digs on the night.

Head coach Kristen Salyer's team will return to action Saturday evening for a 5 p.m. match against Mars Hill inside the Prior Center.