NASHVILLE – In a battle of unbeatens in the Atlantic Sun Conference on Saturday night, the Lipscomb University volleyball team saw its five-match winning streak come to a halt by the University of Central Arkansas in a five-set bout from Allen Arena. 

Final Score: Central Arkansas 3, Lipscomb 2 (13-25, 25-20, 25-23, 14-25, 15-8)
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (8-9, 5-1), Central Arkansas (9-8, 6-0)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Similar to the first set last night, Lipscomb got out to a strong start. Tied at four, following a Berkley Mischler kill, the Bisons went on an 11-2 run to swell the lead to 15-7. The home team kept the rally going thanks to an Addi Pelham solo block. 

The Bisons, who posted 14 kills to the Sugar Bears' nine, made it a 22-12 lead before clinching the first 25-13. 

UCA came out strong in set number two thanks to a 10-4 start. The Sugar Bears committed just one attack error on 36 swings and laced 19 kills en route to a 25-20 win to even the match at a set apiece. 

Lipscomb overcame an early 6-1 deficit with a 7-1 run to tie it at eight thanks to an assisted block by Mishcler and Pelham. 

Later, tied at 10, Central Arkansas used another 6-1 run to increase the lead to 16-11, but Lipscomb rallied to even it again at 23 thanks to kills by Karlie McNabb and Meg Mersman. However, kills by Mackenzie Vernon and Caylan Koons pushed the momentum back to the visitors, as they jumped ahead two sets to one with a 25-23 set three win. 

The fourth frame brought life back to the Bisons, as they got out to a 12-4 start after a McNabb kill and a Mersman and Sophia Hudepohl block. They improved the lead to 18-8 en route to a 25-14 win and forcing the deciding set. 

UCA got out of the starter's gate quick and strong in the fifth set by winning the first six points and making it an 8-1 lead when the teams switched sides. The Sugar Bears held Lipscomb to just five kills and smashed nine of their own in the final frame to win it, 15-8, and take the match in five sets. 

KEY STATISTICS
Karlie McNabb and Meg Mersman led the Bisons with 14 kills apiece. Along with a .571 attack percentage on 21 swings, Mersman also had three total blocks, including two solo. 

Addi Pelham added 13 kills, while Courtney Jones contributed 11. 

Libby Steinhart led the defense with 14 digs, while Sophia Hudepohl assisted on 47 of the team's 58 kills. 

UP NEXT
Lipscomb will next hit the road for a weekend trip to Jacksonville, Florida to take on North Florida on Friday.