WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - Midway played two highly competitive sets against unbeaten University of the Cumberlands Wednesday, but the Patriots proved too strong in a 25-20, 26-24, 25-13 sweep of a non-conference women's volleyball matchup.
Facing a Cumberlands team that came in 8-0 and ranked in the top-15 nationally in hitting percentage, kills, kills per-set, assists and assists per-set, the Eagles got within striking distance of an upset in each of the first two sets.
After falling behind 5-1 early, they rallied within 21-20, after consecutive Alyssa Medeiros kills were followed by consecutive Patriot attack errors. But after a service error by Midway, Cumberlands responded with a 4-0 run of its own to lock up the first set.
Things were even tighter in a thrilling second set, in which the teams were either tied or within a point of each other for 30 of the final 33 points.
Midway, which held five one-point leads in that stretch, fought off two-straight set points, as kills by Meghan Adams and Aubry Koester, both of which came off Marinna Liedle assists, tied the score at 24.
The Patriots would answer, though, locking up a two-set advantage on back-to-back Sara Zampedri kills.
That momentum carried over into set three, as Cumberlands opened up a 10-1 lead. After Midway rallied to get within 16-10, the Patriots responded by scoring eight of the next nine to lock up the sweep.
Wednesday marked Cumberlands' seventh-straight win against Midway, though it also marked the first time the schools have played since 2015.
Koester led the way for the 1-1 Eagles, finishing with a team-best 12 kills and a match-best 16 digs. Liedle and Paige Miles both had 12 assists while Anju Sugiya recorded all three of Midway's service aces.
Things pick up significantly for Midway this weekend, as it will travel to Adrian, Mich. to play four matches in two days at the Sienna Heights Labor Day Invitational. The Eagles begin play on Friday with a 4 p.m. match against Calumet (Ind.) and an 8 p.m. match against Trinity Christian (Ill.).
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