Cumberland handles Freed-Hardeman at home with a 3-0 sweep on faculty appreciation night.
The Phoenix offense was led by the right side hitters, Izzy Curcio and Layla Wandel with eight kills a piece. Both hitters recorded about a .300 attacking percentage. Bott led the team in assists with 21 while Harlee Kate Reid picked up 13 digs in the win.
Both teams were off to slow starts in set one, going back-and-forth in points with neither side establishing a solid momentum. The Phoenix found an opening off of a kill from Wandel at 15-17 that sent Bott on a four point serving run, a lead which Cumberland was able to hold onto to win the set 25-19. Lauren Galvan earned four of her seven kills in the set to establish herself early on.
Cumberland got off to a more dominating start in set two, earning the first three points of the game, a lead onto which they held down for the entire match. The Phoenix got middle hitter Hazel Konkel going in the set, where she picked up three strong kills. The Lions fought hard towards the end of the set with two service runs, one lasting for three points with Charley Fulton in control and the other lasting five points with Bryce Morris as the server. The Lions cut the Phoenix lead down to six points and forced their opponent into a timeout. A kill from Wandel ended the set in favor of the Phoenix with another 25-19 score.
Set three was a close battle between the teams, as Freed-Hardeman fought hard all set to force a set four. The Phoenix errored twice in the first three points to give the Lions an early advantage. The Lions remained at least one point ahead of the Phoenix until Cumberland was able to tie it up at 10-10 on a four point service run with Faith Weitzel on the serving line. From that point on it was a tight race to 25 points. The Phoenix were able to string up enough points to take their most significant lead of the set of five points. The Lions were relentless until the end, as a 4-0 service run by Adleigh Meyes forced Cumberland into a timeout. The Phoenix were able to take the set 25-23, with a big block from freshmen Konkel and Wandel.
Cumberland will be back on their home court Thursday, October 13 at 7 pm. The will face the Bethel University Wildcats.
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