WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - WCU opened up play in the Cumberlands Invite with a dominant 3-0 victory against Union College (Ky.) but fell to the University of the Cumberlands in a thrilling five set match.
 
The Lady Crusaders delivered a strong performance, sweeping Union in straight sets, winning 25-14, 25-14, 25-21.
 
In the first set, both teams went back and forth at the start but Carey slowly started to pull away behind a 6-2 run to take a 10-5 lead.  From there the Bulldogs managed to battle back to within three points on a couple of occasions but the Lady Crusaders answered each time with WCU finishing things off with a 6-0 run to close the set.
 
The momentum was carried over into the second set for the Lady Crusaders, as they jumped out to a commanding 10-2 lead to start the set and never looked back to take the set and the 2-0 lead.  The third set was nothing like the first two, as both teams took turns with the lead.
 
With Union leading 11-9, it looked as if Carey took control of the match behind a 7-1 run before going on to take a 19-13 lead.  However, the Bulldogs would not go quietly, as they battled back to cut the deficit to two just two points at 20-18.  The Lady Crusaders settled back in and fought off the comeback attempt, closing the set on a 5-3 run for the straight sets sweep.
 
In their second match of the day, William Carey faced off against the University of the Cumberlands in what was an intense battle between both teams that ultimately saw the Patriots come out victorious in five sets.
 
The opening set saw the Lady Crusaders take control early, capitalizing on a few unforced errors from UC to build a solid 9-2 lead before going on to take the set 25-11.  The second and third sets were identical with both teams trading shots in the beginning but the Patriots would use a 7-2 run in the second set and a 9-2 run in the third to pull away to take a 2-1 lead.
 
The Lady Crusaders regrouped in the fourth set, opening on a 7-2 run but the Patriots slowly chipped away, eventually tying the match at 17 all.  From there both teams took turns with the lead.  With the score tied once again this time at 21 all, Suelen Lima put Carey ahead with back to back kills with an attack error by the Patriots giving WCU a 24-21 lead.  UC would answer with back to back points to get within one point but Elaina Anderson ended any hope of the comeback with a kill to force the deciding fifth set.
 
The battled continued in the fifth set with the Patriots slowly pulling away to take an 11-6 advantage.  However, the Lady Crusaders never buckled and rallied to a 13-12 lead behind a 7-1.  Unfortunately in the end it would be UC that would prevail.
 
WCU is back in action tomorrow, as they wrap up play in the Cumberlands Invite with matches against Keiser University at 10:00 am and Bluefield College at 12:00 pm.