Box Score MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat volleyball team fell in three sets to the visiting University of the Cumberlands Patriots Saturday afternoon in McAlister Gymnasium. With the defeat, Montreat dropped to 10-13 overall on the season.
 
Cumberlands (18-8) stormed out of the gate with its most efficient hitting set of the afternoon to take control of the match. The visitors utilized 15 kills on a 0.519 hitting percentage to earn a 12-point first-frame victory despite four kills and a 0.429 hitting percentage from senior Savannah Strawbridge in the opening set.
 
The Cavaliers registered an impressive 0.235 hitting percentage as a team in the second frame; however, UC ramped up its intensity on offense, notching 18 kills while hitting 0.457. Strawbridge added an additional four killed attack attempts for the home team in the set, and Taylor Rouse contributed with three. Rouse finished the contest with eight kills and a 0.227 hitting percentage.
 
Unlike the initial two frames, Montreat put pressure on the Patriots and traded blows with Cumberlands in the third. Trailing 18-12 in the set, the Cavaliers pulled within a single point on four separate occasions, including 24-23. Although the Cavs had the opportunity to extend the set into extra points and collected their most kills in a frame on the day (13), one of UC's 15 kills in the set closed the door on the home team.
 
Strawbridge ended the competition with a team-high 12 kills, while hitting 0.323. Katie James led all players with a match-best 26 assists, and Cambria Bowen concluded with 14 digs to captain the back row.
 
The Cavaliers return to action with an Appalachian Athletic Conference matchup against Bluefield on Tuesday. First serve inside McAlister Gymnasium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.