Cumberland Phoenix Open 2026 Season with Pair of Wins at Phoenix Classic

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LEBANON, Tenn. — Cumberland University women’s volleyball opened the 2026 season in impressive fashion Friday, sweeping University of Rio Grande 25-20, 25-19, 38-36 before rallying past Columbia International 25-23, 19-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-13 in a five-set thriller at Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena. The Phoenix finished opening day of the Phoenix Classic 2-0.

Junior outside hitter Regan Eigenrauch, in her Cumberland debut after transferring from Shawnee Community College, led the morning win with 17 kills on .417 hitting. Setter Carlee Rogers contributed eight kills without an error, 33 assists, 11 digs and three block assists. The Phoenix totaled 50 kills, 11 aces and five blocks while hitting .237. Libero Kaleigh Glass added 19 digs and four aces. Carola Schnidrig posted a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs. Hailey Jones had eight kills.

Cumberland built early leads in the first two sets before surviving a 74-point third-set marathon featuring 23 ties. After Rio Grande led 36-35, Rogers tied it, Liberty Shadix blocked for the lead, and Lydia Cox served an ace to close the 38-36 sweep.

In the afternoon, Schnidrig led with 18 kills and 21 digs. Shadix added 10 kills on .375 hitting and six blocks. Rogers dished 47 assists with 13 digs. Cumberland finished with 61 kills, 80 digs, eight blocks and 12 aces while holding CIU to a .148 attack percentage. Cox served seven aces without an error.

After dropping the second and fourth sets, Cumberland trailed 13-9 in the fifth. A Hubbell kill, Shadix block and kills, a Schnidrig kill and a Shadix-Hubbell block completed a six-point run for the 15-13 comeback victory.

Head coach Hannah Vadakin, in her seventh season as head coach, noted the challenge of integrating four newcomers after graduating seven players. “We spent a lot of time in the spring building culture,” she said. “This is just an amazing group of women. They do a really good job of caring for one another.” She called it her highest-IQ team yet, combining athletic talent with court awareness.

Eigenrauch described the environment as family-like. “I knew none of these girls coming in, and it feels like I’ve known them for my whole life,” she said after being named player of the game. “Everybody’s connected. There’s no bad moments.”

Cumberland was picked fourth in the Mid-South Conference preseason poll. The Phoenix face No. 2 Eastern Oregon at 2 p.m. Saturday, then Fisk in the nightcap to close the Classic.