NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University volleyball team was unable to overcome a slow start, as the No. 7 University of Kentucky took down the Bisons in straight sets, Saturday inside Allen Arena on the second day of the LUV Invitational. 

Kentucky is ranked seventh in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. 

Final Score: No. 7 Kentucky 3, Lipscomb 0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-23)
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (0-2), Kentucky (1-0)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats took advantage of early mistakes by the Bisons, scoring the first nine points of the opening frame. A net error by Kentucky earned Lipscomb's first side out of the period. 

From there, the teams went nearly point-for-point. Ahead 18-8, Kentucky rallied to a 6-2 run to get to set point. However, similar to Friday night against Nebraska, the Bisons did not go away quietly. An attack error and a block by Cora ter Kuile and Berkley Mischler saw the Bisons win the next two points. 

Unfortunately, UK took the set on the next rally with a Lizzie Carr kill to win the opener, 25-12. 

In set two, with the Wildcats ahead 4-3, the visitors swelled the lead to 11-5 after a Brooklyn DeLeye kill and solo block during the run. 

The Bisons eventually cut the deficit back down to 16-13 after an Allison Barrick spike that forced the Wildcats to burn a timeout. 

Coming out of the break, Kentucky earned the side out and made it a 20-15 affair thanks to kills by Lizzie Carr and DeLeye. 

Despite the valiant effort by Lipscomb to keep it close, Eva Hudson secured the second frame for the Wildcats, 25-20. 

Set three saw everything go right for the Bisons except the set score. They posted 15 kills to Kentucky's 11, and they recorded a .344 attack percentage to a .161 mark for the Wildcats. 

Rallying from a 15-9 deficit, the Bisons made it a 21-18 affair after another kill by Mischler, but the Wildcats prevailed and were able to get match point with a Eva Hudson kill. 

Ahead 24-21, the Bisons kept the set alive with kills from Sydney Strenger and Courtney Jones, but on the next point, the Wildcats restored order with a kill by Hudson from the left side to secure the match. 

QUOTABLE
Watch Brandon Rosenthal's postmatch interview. 


KEY STATISTICS
Courtney Jones nearly missed a double-double with a team-high 11 kills and eight digs. 

Berkley Mischler added six kills on 11 swings from the middle and added three assisted blocks, while Sophia Hudepohl recorded her 31st career double-double with 26 assists and 11 digs. 

Sydney Strenger spiked six kills in her two sets on 13 swings.

UP NEXT
The LUV Invitational concludes on Sunday at 2 p.m. with Seton Hall.