NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University Volleyball team secured a weekend sweep, but it didn't come easy. Trailing 2-1, the Bisons rallied to win sets four and five to defeat the Sugar Bears of the University of Central Arkansas, Saturday night inside Allen Arena. 

Final Score: Lipscomb 3, Central Arkansas 2 (25-14, 23-25, 15-25, 25-23, 15-6)
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (13-11, 9-5), Central Arkansas (13-11, 10-4)

SENIOR WEEKEND
The Bisons honored its four seniors for Senior Weekend: Sophia Hudepohl, Courtney Jones, Berkley Mischler and Cora ter Kuile. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bisons stormed out to a 6-3 lead early in the set that saw kills from Ella Durham and Berkley Mischler.

Taking advantage of six attack errors by UCA and a .034 attack percentage, LUV stormed out to a 19-9 lead en route to a 25-14 victory. 

In set two, the Sugar Bears saw three straight kills from Laci Bohannan and Ella Chaney before the Bisons responded with back-to-back spikes from Courtney Jones and Durham. 

From there, Central Arkansas used a 4-1 run to lead 7-3 and forced Lipscomb to burn a timeout. 

UCA had an 18-15 lead before the Bisons used a 5-2 run to even the set at 20 points apiece thanks to kills from Sydney Strenger and back-to-back attack errors by the Sugar Bears. 

Unfortunately, the Sugar Bears held off a late Bisons rally to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-23 set two win. 

The Bisons struggled in set three, as the Sugar Bears stormed out to a 13-6 lead en route to a 25-15 win to lead the match 2-1. 

Despite each team having 10 kills in the third, six of Lipscomb's 11 attack errors came off a Central Arkansas block. 

The crucial fourth set was a crucial one indeed. There were 12 ties and four lead changes, but the biggest lead change of them all came when the Bisons trailed 23-20. LUV scored five straight points after kills by Mischler and three straight attack errors by UCA to force the deciding fifth set. 

The Bisons' 5-0 run to end the fourth set extended into the fifth, as the home squad sprinted out to a 6-2 lead on kills by Jones and Durham. 

After switching sides with an 8-3 lead, Sophia Hudepohl extended the lead with a service ace. Later, two kills from Cora ter Kuile and back-to-back spikes from Durham and Mischler won the match for the Bisons. 

QUOTABLE
Hear from Cora ter Kuile and Brandon Rosenthal after the match. 


KEY STATISTICS
After committing 21 attack errors combined in sets two and three for a .067 attack percentage, the Bisons rallied back to hit .416 with 30 kills and five attack errors. 

Courtney Jones led the Bisons with 21 kills and added nine digs, while Kenzie Kucks had a career-high 28 digs and was a perfect 28-for-28 on receptions. 

Berkley Mischler totaled 15 kills and added four blocks, while Ella Durham posted a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs. 

Sophia Hudepohl recorded 53 assists and nine digs, while Brooklyn Fuchs and Cora ter Kuile each had seven kills. 

HERD NOTES
With Saturday's win, the Bisons have clinched a berth in the ASUN Tournament for the 21st straight season. Additionally, the 21 appearances in the conference tournament is the most in league history. 

What a way to earn your 200th win all-time inside Allen Arena than what was played on Saturday night. Lipscomb improves to 200-85 since the Bisons moved to Allen Arena in 2002, a .702 winning percentage. 

Saturday's match marked the sixth time in the series that went the distance, including the fifth time in the last six regular season matches. 

Lipscomb improves to 4-2 in five-set matches against Central Arkansas and 9-3 all-time in the series. 

UP NEXT
The Bisons will conclude the home schedule on Tuesday with a contest against in-state and ASUN foe Austin Peay. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Allen Arena.