The University of the Cumberlands volleyball team showed great skill and determination this week. Losing to Georgetown to start off their week Cumberlands remained resilient for the rest of their matches beating Kentucky State and West Virginia Tech at the end of the week.

Going into their match against Georgetown the Patriots were determined to beat their rival school. The Tigers had previously lost to Lindsey Wilson and the Patriots considered this to be an upper-hand in the match. Cumberlands gave a great effort taking the match to four games. Lauren Taylor put down 11 kills along with Anna Clemenz (Bellbrook, OH) and Heather Daniels having 9 each. Clemenz also dug up 17 balls from the back row helping Aslean White to gain 26 set assists. Games ended: 27-30, 29-31, 30-20, and 23-30 as UC fell to the Tigers.

Thursday the 26th the Patriots celebrated their senior night just before playing Kentucky State. Among the senior athletes recognized were: Liz Bowling, Jennifer Burke, Anna Clemenz, Allison Hooper, Katharina Mueller, Maggie Callis, Laura Sivado, and Aslean White. Coach Amanda Walton commented, ?Each one of these ladies holds a special place in my heart! I love them for who they are and support them in all their endeavors! I count it a privilege and honor to have the opportunity to be a part of their lives. I can only hope that I have impacted their lives as much as they have impacted mine! Thank you ladies for making me a better coach and a better person. Each of you will be missed! Thanks for the memories? all of them!?

Cumberlands quickly put away Kentucky State in front of a full gym of excited family and friends. Cumberlands won the first match 30-14 leaving KY State in a daze before beating them again in the next game 30-16. Aslean White again proved herself a leader bringing in 4 kills, 4 aces, and 20 set assists. Anna Clemenz also had 4 kills and 10 defensive digs from the back row. Cumberlands took KY State in the last game 30-23 leaving the seniors a night to remember forever.

Cumberlands? last match of the week took them to West Virginia Tech for a double header. After a five hour ride the Patriots were eager to play. During their first match Cumberlands had no trouble winning with a team average of 44 kills, 15 aces, and 32 digs. Lauren Taylor lead for team kills with 15, Liz Bowling put up 20 set assists, and Aslean White had 5 aces. Games ending: 30-15, 30-10, 30-9.

The second match lead to a little more challenge, but nothing the Patriots couldn?t handle. With a little more intensity coming from WV Tech?s fans the Patriots focused in on winning the game and made it happen. Heather Daniels showed WV how outside hitting is supposed to be done with her hard cross and deep line hits. Taran Johnson also had some hard hits from middle bringing in 5 kills with only 1 error. During the second game of the second match Aslean White took a hit in the head by a free ball from WV. Liz Bowling instinctively played it up as Lauren Taylor put it down to win the second match. In between matches and team huddle White said, ?At least I had my head in the game coach!?

The third game also lead to some fun by Cumberlands Heather Daniels. Going for a wild pass out of bounds by one of her teammates Daniels dove to reach the ball sending it back over to WV. Trying to regain her orientation Daniels went to stand up and found herself break dancing better than Michael Jackson himself. After about 10 seconds of slipping and sliding around Daniels found her balance and put down another kill for her team. Second match games ending with UC recording the wins: 30-19, 30-14, 30-13.

Cumberlands will finish their conference games this Tuesday October 31, 2006 against Pikeville and will play Cumberland University the following Thursday, November 2, 2006.

Article Provided by George Boles, University of the Cumberlands Sports Information Student Assistant