Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 DAVENPORT, Iowa. - - Cumberland dropped the first game of day two at the SAU Invitational to #9 McPherson in a closely fought contest, 25-20, 14-25, 25-20, 11-25, 11-25.
Lila Cade hit 18 kills.
Carlee Rogers had 10 kills and got herself an ace and helped on the defensive end with 15 digs.
Brook Jablonski had three aces of her own. Cumberland finished with a .188 hitting percentage, and 50 kills.
The first set saw the Phoenix come out with intensity going up 5-1 very quickly. Three errors allowed McPerson to get back into the set, and it was back and forth until 15-3 when Cumberland hit six points and only allowed one for McPherson as they edged the set, 20-14. The Bulldogs fought back with some kills but the Phoenix managed to comfortably see out the set 25-20 with a few big Alei Roper Kills and Hazel Konkel smashing the final point.
The second set started very evenly with both teams battling to gain the advantage. It was the Bulldogs who pulled away first and made the game 6-11 forcing a Cumberland timeout. Cumberland regrouped and got three points after the timeout, however, much of the momentum was still with McPherson as they went on a five point run and made the game 12-21. Cumberland struggled to get back into the set and the Bulldogs took the second 14-25.
With the game at 1-1 it was evenly balanced, a number of McPherson errors and five kills by the Phoenix the score was 13-16 as Cumberland took a timeout. Taking the time to refocus paid dividends for the Phoenix as they went on two three point and one four point with five Lila Cade kills made the game 25-20.
McPherson really came out and made a statement of intent to overcome the deficit as they went on a six point opening run. The Phoenix tried to battle back and got a few kills but the Bulldogs looked dominant and forced another CU timeout at 6-17. The Bulldogs really showed why they are the number nine team in the nation as they ended the fourth set 11-25.
Going into the final set, Cumberland tried to gain back some momentum and made the game 7-3, including two Brook Jablonski service aces. However, McPherson came back and answered CU with six a six point run of their own. Both teams played some great volleyball however McPherson proved to be too much as they took the fifth set and the win on the day.
The second game of the day Cumberland looked to pick themselves up and get a result against Dordt University.
The first set of the game saw the Phoenix get themselves up 6-4 thanks to a number of kills in attack. The set was back and forth the whole way with there being no more than one point in it until 20-19 to Cumberland. The Phoenix took advantage of a couple Dordt errors and Morgan Snead ensured the set was in favor of CU as a service ace ended the set 25-20.
The second set was much like the first with both teams having success with kills and errors. With the set 19-16 in favor of Cumberland, Dordt took a timeout. The timeout gave the Defenders time to regroup and managed to level the game at 22-22. A Dordt kill put the second set to bed and finished 23-25.
The third set was very similar with both teams really giving their all. Four Cumberland kills put the Phoenix up 19-11. Dordt tried their best to get back into the set, but the lead was too big and Cumberland ran out 25-19 winners going into the fourth.
Fatigue started to kick in for the Phoenix after a lot of volleyball as the Defenders went on a four point run and created some space between themselves and the Phoenix with the game at 5-11. Two more four point runs ensured that Dordt were out ahead with no chance of a Cumberland comeback and the fourth set ended 11-25.
Going into the final set, Dordt got up fast with three kills and an attack error. Cumberland hit some kills of their own but were falling slightly short as they called a timeout at 4-11. A couple of errors and some big kills ensured that Dordt took the final set and took the game.
Cumberland are back at home on Thursday as they host Bethel University in their conference opener at 7pm.
