The volleyball program at Shawnee State, despite a 10-kill, 13-dig performance from Macie Rhoads, couldn't claim victory as the Bears fell in a straight-set defeat (21-25, 21-25, 12-25) to Cumberland (Tenn.) Sunday afternoon in a Mid-South Conference match that was held in Lebanon, Tenn.
Rhoads, who posted her sixth double-double of the 2021 season, was aided in the first set by Haidyn Wamsley, who posted the match's first two kills and Emilee Cochran, who added in a service ace, to give SSU a quick 3-0 lead to start the match. A kill each from Nashail Shelby and Bethany Colling made it 6-2 Bears to begin play.
Following a 17-3 run by Cumberland, Shawnee State rallied its way back into the first set fight as two additional kills from Wamsley and a service ace each from Rhoads and Maddie Payne brought the Bears within 21-19 before the Phoenix closed the match on a 4-2 spurt to take the opening set.
In the second frame, Shawnee State faced an 18-13 deficit late in the set's going, but closed within one, 20-19, after forcing four attack error, getting a combined block from Wamsley and Shelby and getting a kill apiece from Shelby and Olivia Fliehman. Again, however, the Phoenix pulled away late, using a 5-1 run to take the second set and claim a 2-0 match lead.
Down 11-2 to begin the third frame, SSU got its offense untracked with a pair of kills from Wamsley to keep the deficit at nine, 16-7, but got no closer than that margin in the final set of play as the Bears dropped the match.
Along with Rhoads' performance, Maddie Cochran posted 11 digs while Maria Kolinoff added in 15 assists and eight digs for Shawnee State. The Bears were also aided by Shelby's eight assisted blocks at the net.
Shawnee State (9-3, 0-2 MSC) will face Georgetown (5-7, 1-1 MSC) Tuesday evening in a Mid-South Conference matchup that will be held inside the Waller Gymnasium confines in Portsmouth. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
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