UVA Wise couldn't keep up with Mars Hill on Friday night in Mars Hill, N.C., falling short by a score of 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-9).

The UVA Wise Cavaliers (3-10, 0-7 SAC) seemed to have a decent start in the first set, scoring three quick points by a Morgan Blevin kill and two service aces. Then the Mars Hill Lions woke up and responded with a kill by Sarah Goddard and Kelly Jakaitis to give the Lions the upper hand. Mars Hill soon began to have many five- and six-point runs, while keeping the Cavs unresponsive. At the end of the set, the Cavs were held at 13 points and Mars Hill won by 12.

The second set showed a more powerful Cavs team that displayed more stamina against the Lions. Adison Minor and Kelsey Green snagged the first two points of the game with two kills. From this point forward, the Cavs looked promising for many frames — Blevins produced three kills and the Lions couldn't defend, and the Cavs kept the lead. It wasn't until the thirteenth point that the Lions flipped the cards and started to eat away at the Cavalier lead. The Lions surpassed the Cavs by consecutive kills by Jana Cuk and Goddard to give them a 16-14 lead. Although Cassidy Farley tried to keep the Cavs above water with a kill, the Lions ran away with a final 25-18 win.

In the third, the Cavs had lost their stamina from the previous set and the Lions took advantage. The Lions took the first three points of the set, with only one of the three points earned. The trend continued as the Cavs had only put up two points by a Green kill and a Lions service error, while Mars Hill ran away with eight. The match stayed in the Lions' favor, beating out the Cavs by a 16-point margin (25-9).

Grace Lilly came out with the highest amount of kills on the night with nine. Green of the Cavaliers trailed right behind her with eight of her own. Mars Hill's Jordan Schmucker had 27 assists while Cavalier Rylee Waye had a total of 21. Matelyn Gibson of the Cavs led in digs with nine while Mars Hill's Ully Martins ended with eight. 

 

UP NEXT: LENOIR-RHYNE
The Cavs are hoping to find their groove against Lenoir-Rhyne tomorrow, Oct. 2 at 2:00 p.m. in Hickory, N.C. 

The last time the Cavs played the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears was on March 6, 2021, and the Cavs lost 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-16). 

On the season, the Bears are 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the SAC. For the first time since 2004, the Bears have made it through the SAC undefeated thus far. To add to their accolades, the Bears' heavy hitter Taylor Prall and dig master Rachel Belwick were named AVCA National Players of the Week. 

The Bears will go into the UVA Wise matchup on a seven-game winning streak. 
 

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