BARBOURVILLE, Ky.— Montreat College's volleyball team traveled to Kentucky to play the Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup Saturday morning. The Cavaliers were swept in three sets by scores of 25-14, 25-14 and 25-22. Union Commonwealth advanced to 6-13 overall and 6-3 in AAC play with the victory. Montreat fell to a record of 0-10 both overall and in the conference with the loss.
 
The first set opened with the visitors gaining an early edge, as Elizabeth Harrington and Cizzie Griffin combined for a quick point, reflecting strong initial play. Despite a tightly contested start, Union responded efficiently with a service ace and several Montreat attack errors, creating a shift in momentum. The hosts continued to capitalize on their service game, extending their lead to 13-5 thanks to a 7-0 run.
 
The Cavs continued to fight, and their stretch of play was highlighted by kills from Maggie Stewart and Josie Leatherman. The Bulldogs' service aces and consistent play helped them maintain control throughout set one, though, as they took it by a score of 25-14.
 
Montreat started the second frame with a competitive edge, as Harrington and Genesis Hernandez each contributed key kills, keeping the game tightly contested at 11-11. A strong sequence by Hernandez, with two consecutive kills off assists from Griffin, provided a temporary one-point lead for the Cavaliers, prompting a timeout from Union.
 
However, the Bulldogs responded decisively after their timeout, capitalizing on Montreat's attack errors to pull ahead. Excluding a kill from Sarah Alderman and a Bulldog serving error, UCU scored the next 14 points to close the door the same way as the opening set, 25-14.
 
To start the third frame, Montreat initially seized momentum with a strong opening. The Cavs took a quick 3-0 lead following a kill by Leatherman and a service ace from Griffin. Montreat maintained a slight edge through the set, with Harrington and Stewart contributing effectively at the net, extending their advantage to 7-2; however, the hosts responded with a series of attacks, eliminating the gap to tie the score at 9-9.
 
Despite the away side's efforts to regain control with key kills from Hernandez and Harrington, the Bulldogs edged ahead, taking advantage of some attack errors. The Cavaliers called a timeout trailing 19-15. After regrouping, Leatherman delivered consecutive kills to bring Montreat within a point at 21-20. As the set ended, Union managed to fend off any rally attempts, finishing the frame with a 25-22 win.
 
Harrington led the Cavs with seven kills on 19 attempts, finishing with a .211 hitting percentage and contributing three block assists. She also led the Cavaliers with a career-high 13 digs. Griffin dished out a personal-best 16 assists, alongside one service ace. Leatherman added eight kills on 26 attempts, while Hernandez posted a career-high seven kills in just two sets, contributing significantly to the team's offensive efforts.
 
Collectively, Union tallied 31 kills while Montreat had 29. The Bulldogs also secured eight aces to the Cavs' one. Meanwhile, the hosts accrued 28 assists and 50 digs, while the visitors accumulated 27 assists and 49 digs. The Cavaliers ended the day with a .009 hitting percentage, while UCU finished with a .200 mark.
 
"It comes down to staying aggressive and showing our competitive edge from start to finish," said head coach Cristina Viera. "We had moments where we executed well, but consistency will make the difference. We need to focus on taking care of our side of the game."
 
The next challenge for Montreat takes it on the road to Spartanburg, S.C., where it will face Spartanburg Methodist College. The match is set for Tuesday, Oct. 14, with AAC action beginning at 6:30 p.m.