Bowling Green, Ky.-- Cumberland handles Thomas More in four to move onto the Mid-South Conference Championship. Despite dropping the first, the Phoenix improved in every aspect of the game to take the next three sets.

Cumberland avenges last year's opening round loss to the Saints, making program history by advancing to the championship match. The No. 2 seeded Phoenix out dug the fourth seeded Saints 62-41 with MSC Defender of the Year Caleb Ginnings notching a season-high 26 digs. 

It was a big night for multiple Phoenix, as Luka Ilic also recorded a season-high after leading all players with 21 kills. Jordan Pierce was solid from start to finish, earning his fourth double-double of the season with 51 assists and 12 digs.

Kaden Kuehler and Christian Lester also contributed double-figure kills with 14 and 13 respectively. 

Caleb Lipscomb led the Thomas More attackers with 13 kills, while libero Jonathan Litzler added 15 digs.

Lipscomb contributed three back-to-back kills in the Saints’ early 5-0 run to set the team up with the advantage. The Phoenix were forced to play catchup through the middle stages of set one until an overpass kill by Codville Rogers evened out the score 13-13.

The Phoenix tightened up their offense and a pair of kills from Kix Ferrell and Lester earned their first lead of the game at 16-14. CU would stay ahead with a cushion of at least three points from then on, until a three point run from the Saints tied it up at 23-23. 

The Phoenix were troubled by errors as the set came to a close allowing Thomas More to claim the final three points of the set for a 26-24 finish.

Cumberland found themselves in a hole to start the second, forcing them to burn a timeout quickly as the Saints cruised to a 7-2 lead. The Phoenix faced an uphill battle for the majority of the set, until Ilic became an offensive weapon recording four kills in six points to even out the score at 19-19. 

The Phoenix dialed in at the net for the final few points, silencing Thomas More with a trio of shutdown blocks. CU tied up the game with a 25-22 win.

It was an ideal start for the Phoenix in the third with Thomas More being plagued by errors, forcing the Saints into a timeout at 8-3. Cumberland came out of the break swinging as Pierce spread the favor among all attackers, creating a comfortable distance from Thomas More. 

Despite trailing by as many as eight on multiple occasions, the Saints nailed five back-to-back points to cut the deficit to three at 19-16. 

After recollecting in a timeout, the Phoenix regained possession and snatched the third 25-20. Cumberland recorded ten more kills than Thomas More in the set, connecting on 16 total.

Lester was a true offensive threat in the fourth, nailing four kills and one solo block in the first eleven points to set CU up with the lead. Despite Thomas More cutting it close on multiple occurrences, the lead stayed consistent with the Phoenix throughout the entire set.

Ilic took a hard cross-court swing that ricocheted off of a Thomas More defender to secure the 25-23 win, allowing CU to advance to the MSC championship.

This is the first time in program history that Cumberland has made it to a Mid-South Conference Men’s Volleyball Tournament championship game. The Phoenix will face Georgetown for a chance to claim the title at 5 pm.