CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (Volleyball) – The Shawnee State volleyball team was unable to overcome an .062 attack percentage, as the No. 4-seeded Bears fell to fifth-seeded University of the Cumberlands, 3-0, in the opening round of the Mid-South Conference Tournament on Friday at the Powell Athletic Center on the campus of Campbellsville University.

Lauren Helbig (SO/Mansfield, Ohio) and Tiffany Jackson (SR/Williamstown, N.J.) each finished with seven kills and Christina Shelton (SO/West Union, Ohio) added five, but no SSU player recorded an attack percentage better than .250 in the match. Madison Smith (JR/Orrville, Ohio) led the squad with 19 digs, and Devan Scarberry (SR/Franklin Furnace, Ohio) notched a double-double with 12 digs and 10 assists.

As has been the case in the two previous matchups with the Cumberlands this season, the first set went back-and-forth throughout. The opening frame featured 13 ties and four lead changes.

The Bears took the early advantage, going ahead 10-7 with a Jackson kill. Following three straight points from the Patriots, a service ace from Madison Smith put SSU up 11-10.

The two squads exchanged points to a 19-19 score, before the Patriots were finally able to take control for good. Two kills from UC's Jennifer Philpot and two attack errors lifted the fifth-seed Cumberlands to a 25-21 victory.

The Cumberlands propelled the late surge in the first half to a dominant performance in the second. The Patriots jumped out to a 10-7 lead, but followed with a 9-4 run, to take complete control. Shawnee fought back in the closing points, but the gap was too wide, as the Bears fell, 25-17 – hitting .000 in the set.

UC held the momentum in the early-going of the third set, opening the frame on a 7-1 run. The Bears followed with their strongest stretch of the match, answering with a 16-9 run to take a 17-16 lead, their first of the game. The set remained close, as the score moved to 21-all.

Locked at 21, the Patriots used a 4-1 run to bring the set – and the match – to a close, advancing on to the semifinals of the Mid-South Tournament. UC will play top-seeded Lindsey Wilson College on Saturday.

For the Bears, the season comes to a close, as the squad finishes the season with a 16-17 record. The squad finished the year 7-7 in Mid-South Conference play. Senior Paige Zelich (SR/Grove City, Ohio) graduates as a member of SSU's 1,000 kill club, ending her career with 1,086 – fourth in program history.