GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-- Cumberland split a pair of matches on Friday at the Aquinas/Cornerstone Invitational, sweeping Olivet Nazarene before falling to host No. 12 Aquinas in three sets.
The Phoenix opened the day with a dominant 25-22, 25-20, 25-15 victory over Olivet Nazarene. Cumberland controlled the match from the opening set, outhitting the Tigers .262 to .082 while holding a 36-30 advantage in kills.
Cumberland also held advantages in blocks, 21-0, and assists, 35-26, while committing just 14 attack errors compared to 22 for Olivet Nazarene.
Bianca Guceanu led the Phoenix with nine kills and six block assists, while hitting .182. [Carlee Rogers added seven kills on a .375 hitting percentage to go along with 15 assists, eight digs and a solo block.
Hailey Jones recorded six kills without committing an attack error, finishing with a .600 hitting percentage. She also added five block assists and a solo block.
Regan Eigenrauch contributed five kills while hitting .300, while Liberty Shadix added four kills on a match-best .667 hitting percentage. Shadix also recorded two service aces, four block assists and a solo block.
Cumberland came out strong in the opening set, using a balanced offensive attack to build an early advantage. Olivet Nazarene stayed within striking distance, but the Phoenix closed out the frame 25-22.
The Phoenix continued to control the match in the second set. Cumberland hit .235 in the frame and pulled away late to secure a 25-20 victory and take a 2-0 lead.
Cumberland saved its most efficient offensive performance for the third set, hitting .346 with 13 kills and just four errors. The Phoenix built separation throughout the frame before closing out the sweep with a 25-15 win.
Cumberland then faced host Aquinas in its second match of the day, falling to the 12th-ranked Saints 25-19, 27-25, 25-15.
The Phoenix finished with 29 kills and hit .101, while Aquinas recorded 34 kills and hit .135. Cumberland held an advantage at the net with 23 total blocks compared to 16 for the Saints, but 19 attack errors and 14 service errors proved costly.
Rogers paced the Phoenix with 11 kills on a .348 hitting percentage while adding 14 assists, eight digs and five block assists.
Guceanu finished with seven kills and three block assists, while Shadix and Jones each recorded four kills. Jones also added a solo block and five block assists.
Jacey Hubbell contributed two kills and three block assists, while Kaleigh Glass led the Phoenix defensively with 13 digs. Emma Carter dished out 11 assists and added two service aces.
Aquinas controlled the opening set early and maintained its advantage throughout the frame, taking a 25-19 victory.
The Phoenix answered in the second set, battling throughout the frame and forcing extra points. Cumberland fought off set point to even the score at 25-25, but Aquinas scored the final two points to take a 27-25 win and move within one set of the sweep.
Aquinas carried the momentum into the third set, building an early advantage before pulling away for a 25-15 victory to complete the match.
Cumberland moves to 7-8 on the season and will close out the Aquinas/Cornerstone Invitational on Saturday as they face off against No.15 Mt. Vernon Nazarene and co-host Cornerstone.
