The UVA Wise Highland Cavaliers came up short against the Limestone University Saints today in the David J. Prior Convocation Center, losing in a 3-0 match (25-23, 25-17, 25-11). 

In the first set, spirits were strong on both sides of the net as each team exchanged points for the entirety of the set. In the beginning, the Saints had mustered up a 9-6 lead until the Cavs responded with a six-point run led by an Adison Minor kill. The Saints came back with a kill by Leilani Wilcox Nanai, a Cavs service error, and two attack errors from the Cavs to get to a 13-12 lead. Point by point, the Saints and the Cavs fought each other off until the score read 22-23 with the Cavs up by one thanks to a substantial Morgan Blevins kill. The Cavs failed to respond, and suffered two attack errors to make the score 24-23 with Limestone taking back the lead. Josie Curran of the Saints came up with a kill assisted by Bailey Carpenter to end finish the first set off with a win. 

In the second set, the Cavs snagged a quick first point by a Limestone attack error. The Cavs also suffered an error and evened the playing field. Limestone and UVA Wise went back and forth with the score, until a Wilcox Nanai kill started a three-point rally that held the Cavs at only five points. With Limestone having a minor lead, the Cavs responded with a Cassidy Farley kill to up the score 8-6, but Limestone went on another three-point run to keep the score at a comfortable distance. Once Limestone found a rhythm, it was hard to stop Wilcox Nanai and teammate Josie Curran who led the match in kills. Cavalier Minor kept the Cavs within range with multiple kills assisted by Rylee Waye, but Limestone ran away with a 25-17 win.

In the third set, Limestone used their momentum from their second set win to score the first five points unanswered. Blevins of the Cavs came back with a kill to end the streak, but the Saints came back with yet another four-point run. Madysen Williams of the Saints took this set by storm and made her kills unanswerable, solidifying a Limestone set win by a score of 25-11.

Minor of the Cavs led her team in kills with nine, with senior Kelsey Green right behind her with seven. Waye ended the day with 13 assists, and other senior Matelyn Gibson snagged 10 digs. 

The Cavs will next play the Mars Hill University Mountain Lions in a home match this Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to check out www.uvawisecavs.com for live stats, live video, and more.