Phoenix Hold Off Lindsey Wilson Rally, Claim 3-2 Win to Sweep Season Series

Schnidrig, Rogers lead balanced attack as Cumberland closes strong in fifth set

COLUMBIA, KY - Cumberland volleyball refused to let a Lindsey Wilson comeback spoil the night Friday at Biggers Sports Center. The Phoenix won the decisive fifth set 15-12 to complete a 3-2 Mid-South Conference victory (25-21, 25-12, 21-25, 19-25, 15-12) and sweep the regular-season series.

Cumberland improved to 15-13 overall and 5-2 in conference play, sitting firmly in the upper tier of the Mid-South standings. The Phoenix finished with 58 kills on a .180 hitting percentage, 56 assists, seven service aces, 82 digs and nine blocks while holding Lindsey Wilson to a .080 attack percentage. The Blue Raiders dropped to 14-16 overall and 3-5 in the MSC.

Carola Schnidrig paced Cumberland with a double-double of 16 kills and 21 digs plus three aces. Carlee Rogers delivered a triple-double with 11 kills, 24 assists and 13 digs. Liberty Shadix hit a perfect .500 with eight kills on 16 swings and led the team with six blocks (three solo). Bianca Guceanu added nine kills, Hailey Jones eight kills and three blocks, and Jacey Hubbell six kills and four blocks. Emma Chavers contributed 23 assists and three aces.

Cumberland seized the first two sets. In the opener the Phoenix built a lead and closed on a Hailey Jones kill and Shadix solo block for the 25-21 win. Momentum carried into a dominant second set in which Cumberland hit .371 with 16 kills and only three errors, rolling to a 25-12 victory behind consecutive Schnidrig aces and a long Chavers service run.

Lindsey Wilson answered. The Blue Raiders took the third set 25-21 after Cumberland had tied it at 21-21, then forced a fifth set with a 25-19 fourth-set win fueled by an eight-point run that featured four kills from Luisina Sandrone Tais.

In the fifth, Cumberland jumped ahead 9-3 before Lindsey Wilson stormed back to lead 10-9. The Phoenix regained the edge, and with the score knotted at 12-12 Schnidrig delivered back-to-back kills. Hubbell and Jones combined for the match-clinching block.

“We just kept fighting,” the Phoenix showed throughout a match that tested every phase of their game.

Cumberland returns to action Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Fisk University in Nashville at 7 p.m. for its final non-conference match of the regular season.