HICKORY, N.C. — UVA Wise struggled to overcome a .688 hitting percentage-performance from Bears' Braelyn Faust in their South Atlantic Conference (SAC) road matchup on Saturday, eventually falling 3-0 (17-25, 17-25, 16-25).

Lenoir Rhyne (10-4, 6-1 SAC) managed multiple key runs to solidify their set wins against the Cavs (3-8, 6-1 SAC). In the first set, a kill from LR's Emmaleigh Allen sparked a six-point unanswered run to put the Bears ahead, 12-5. From there, Cavaliers Cassidy Farley and Bailey Conner made up for the deficit with a combined two blocks and three kills for their squad. Although the Bears suffered four service errors towards the end of the set to make the score 23-16, a solid final kill from Emma Clark gave the Bears a 25-17 win.

The Cavaliers suffered the same fate in the second set, as a few UVA Wise attack errors gave LR the advantage early on. The Cavs fought back with team-leading hitter Kaylee Scarce putting up three kills, but the squad's 11 kills wasn't enough to surpass the 25-17 LR win.

Kinley Norris, Lauren Montes, and Farley put up a wall for the Cavs in the third set, combining for five blocks and catapulted the Cavaliers ahead, 5-3. Soon after, LR's Mackenzie Hulsey and Ashley Hawkins led the way for the Bears to tie the score at eight even. LR soon brought the heat with a Faust kill that provoked nine consecutive Bears points for a 17-8 lead over the Cavs — a lead that UVA Wise wouldn't be able to survive. The Bears finalized the win, 25-16.

Scarce led the Cavaliers with seven total kills, while Farley added four blocks and Lily Gutierrez put up non assists. Piper Suddeth led with 10 digs.

Faust led the Bears with 12 kills and three aces. Hulsey put up an impressive leading-37 assists on the day.

Next, the Cavaliers face the Wingate Bulldogs in a home contest on Friday, Sep. 30 with first serve slated for 7:00 PM.

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