MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat volleyball team claimed a 3-set triumph over the Kentucky Christian University Knights Friday night inside McAlister Gymnasium, running the Cavaliers' win streak to four consecutive matches. With the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) victory, the Cavs climbed to 7-4 (4-4 AAC) on the year.
 
Kentucky Christian (1-14, 1-8 AAC) began the match well with four kills, two aces and a block to surge in front early, 7-2; however, KCU's fast start didn't last long. Katie Dickey registered three kills and an ace, while two Kamryn Wolf kills and a pair of Reese Davis service aces powered a 10-1 Cavalier run. Destini Phifer added two kills and a solo block to extend the home side's run to 17-4 as Montreat eventually built its lead out to as large as nine points (21-12). The Knights never gave up and pushed the hosts by claiming nine of the next 12 points, but a .303 hitting percentage capped off by Shalice Lynch and Wolf kills gave the Cavs the opening set, 25-21.
 
Jada Thomas helped Montreat jump out to a 6-2 lead in the second frame with a kill and a block assist. A few minutes later, Katie Alexander's ace expanded the scoreboard advantage to 12-5. KCU battled back with a 4-0 run to pull within four points (13-9), but an immediate 8-0 Cavalier response punctuated by two Wolf aces established the hosts' biggest lead of the frame (21-9). Behind a .222 to .000 hitting percentage disparity, Montreat seized the set, 25-14, and moved the squad within a set of victory.
 
The Cavs wasted no time running away with the third set as Dickey earned points in three different manners—kill, block, ace—to spark a 12-2 run and a 15-6 lead. Montreat led by as many as 13 points and leaned on a massive .583 to .033 attacking edge to take the final set, 25-12, and sweep the Knights in three. Friday night's sweep proved to be the Cavaliers' second sweep in as many matches.
 
"We came in focused tonight," said head coach Brittany Carpenter. "We took each point and then looked ahead to the next no matter what just happened. I tell our team all the time that aggression starts at the end line, and so to see them be aggressive was very helpful."
 
Montreat outhit the visitors .357 to .098 on the night, the Cavs' best attacking percentage of the season. The hosts also ended the evening with advantages in kills (42-27), aces (8-3), digs (33-26) and blocks (10.0-5.0).
 
Dickey paced all attackers with 17 kills thanks to her sterling .571 hitting percentage. Wolf followed her teammate in both categories with 11 kills and a .368 attacking percentage. Alexander (20) and Davis (14) led the way in the assists department, while Lexi Wible tallied a match-high 14 digs. Lynch (5.0), Phifer (4.0) and Dickey (4.0) paved the way in blocks throughout the night.
 
The Montreat volleyball team leaps right back into action tomorrow morning with a home matchup against the Bluefield University Rams. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. inside McAlister Gymnasium.