WISE – For the second match in a row between UVA Wise and Lincoln Memorial University the match went to five sets, and a strong start in the fifth set was the difference as the Highland Cavaliers fell to LMU 3-2 Wednesday Evening in a South Atlantic Conference match on the Quillen Court.
It was only the third time in the long history between the two programs that they went to a fifth frame. Last season the two had a similar result as LMU pulled out the win in the fifth. The other was a 3-2 win by the Cavs in the old Pioneer Gym at Tusculum on September 6, 1996.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: Lincoln Memorial 3, UVA Wise 2
Records: UVA Wise (8-8, 2-5 SAC); Lincoln Memorial (12-5, 6-4 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | David J. Prior Convocation Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cavs came out hot in the first set as they shot out to the 4-0 lead. They maintained a 3–5-point cushion until LMU cobbled together a 5-0 run to tie the match at 14-14. Over the next several points, UVA Wise would take the lead only to see LMU tie it back up immediately. After a Cavalier service error tied the set up at 20-20, LMU's Kristen Moehring and Katherine Bedel each had a pair of kills and the Railsplitters sealed the set win with an ace by Braylynn Humphrey that topped off a 5-0 run.
- The second set had the same pattern of the Cavs scoring and the 'Splitters tying it up until UVA Wise pulled out to a 16-12 lead. They held off LMU for a time until the 'Splitters tied the match again at 20-20 off a block. The Cavs then scored three straight and looked like they were going to grab the set at that point, but LMU rallied again to tie the set at 24-24. A kill by
Morgan Blevins and an attack error by Moehring gave UVA Wise the 26-24 win.
- After battling to a 4-4 tie to open the third set, LMU went on a 3-0 run and held off the Cavs until several kills by
Riley Brandon sparked a Cavalier comeback that tied the set at 15-15. The teams then swapped the lead a few times until a Lauren Pickett service ace gave LMU the 20-19 lead and sparked a set-ending 6-0 run by the Railsplitters.
- The fourth set was basically all UVA Wise as they grabbed a 4-1 lead and never trailed as they rolled out to the 25-20 victory.
- LMU rallied again to open the fifth set with a 10-3 start. The Cavs would attempt a comeback but could never get closer than four points as LMU claimed the set and the match with the 15-9 victory.
ABOUT UVA WISE
- Brandon led the Highland Cavaliers with 15 kills while hitting .494 for the match. Blevins chipped in 10 kills and
Cassidy Farley added in nine.
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Piper Suddeth had a double-double with 23 assists and 15 digs, while
Lily Gutierrez added eleven. Gutierrez also led the team with two aces.
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Abigail Curtis led all players with 26 digs, and
Kamryn Livingston also had 13 in addition to the 15 by Suddeth.
- Farley led the team once again in blocks, this time with five.
ABOUT LMU
- Three players had 15 kills each to lead the Railsplitters. Moehring (who leads the SAC in kills and kills per set) had a double-double with her 15 kills and 14 digs. Agata Bogdanska and Abigail Kesler also had 15 kills apiece.
- Lauren Pickett had a double-double with a match-high 45 assists and 13 digs. Humphrey also had 12 digs, Lauren Jacobs 25, and Reagan Wilkerson 17 digs.
- Pickett and Bedel led the team with six blocks each, while Bogdanska had five.
UP NEXT
The team now has 48 hours to prepare for two SAC matches this weekend. First up is Mars Hill on Friday. The Lions will enter the match with a 6-8 record, 4-4 in SAC play, after defeating Limestone 3-2 Tuesday evening in Chambers Gymnasium. The Lions have the SAC leader in digs and digs per set in Laura Jimenez, who also ranks fourth nationally in digs per set. That match is set for 6 p.m. on the Quillen Court. The Cavs will then host Newberry Saturday at 2 p.m.
