MVNU (31-1, 9-0 AMC South), which is ranked 17th in the most recent NAIA national poll, built an early 21-12 lead in the first game and appeared headed to an easy victory in the game as senior middle hitter Shena Beheler (left) pounded eight kills and junior outside hitter Audrey Hickinbotham added six kills to lead the way.

However, the visiting Lady Jackets (18-9, 8-3 AMC South) had other ideas as Cedarville battled back to knot the score at 27-27 by scoring 15 of the next 21 points including seven straight points when trailing 24-15.

A kill by sophomore middle hitter Stephanie Zollars and a block by sophomore outside hitter Courtney Springer and freshman middle hitter Jackie Albrecht (below right) gave the Lady Cougars a 29-27 advantage, but MVNU could not get its next serve in as the Lady Jackets stayed alive. The two teams traded points to 32-32 when the Lady Cougars finally scored the final two points to take the game 34-32 on errors by Cedarville.

The Lady Jackets did not give in, though, as Cedarville jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the second game and expanded it to 19-9. Trailing 20-10, MVNU rattled off seven straight points to close the gap to 20-17, but that would be as close as the Lady Cougars would get as the Lady Jackets pulled away for the 30-22 win to even the match at one game apiece.

In the third game, Cedarville built a 17-12 advantage midway through the game and appeared on its way to take a lead in the match. However, behind the serving of senior libero Tiffany Milburn, MVNU rattled off six straight points to go in front 18-17.

After a sideout by the Lady Jackets tied the score at 18-18, the Lady Cougars rattled off six more points in a row to build a 24-18 lead as Hickinbotham smashed a pair of kills, Albrecht had a kill and a block, and Springer registered an ace. From that point on, MVNU maintained its lead and posted a 30-25 win to take a two-games-to-one lead.

Beheler got the Lady Cougars off to a quick start in the fourth game with four kills, while Zollars and Springer added a kill apiece to give MVNU and early 8-3 advantage. Following a sideout by Cedarville, the Lady Cougars strung together five straight points behind two more kills from Springer and a kill by Albrecht as the lead grew to 13-4.

After the Lady Jackets pulled within 14-7, a kill by Albrecht and an ace by freshman setter Caitlin Myles moved the lead to 16-7 and MVNU cruised to a 30-20 victory to take the match.

“This was a great conference win as we keep working towards our goal of trying to win a conference title,” said MVNU head coach Paul Swanson. “(Cedarville) is a very good team, and you have to do a lot of good things to beat them. This match tonight was won in the back row as we were able to execute better than they were. That has been the key to our success all season.”

Beheler finished with 24 kills, four blocks, and 14 digs to pace the Lady Cougars, while sophomore setter Kaylin Austen handed out 57 assists to go with three blocks and 10 digs. Hickinbotham pounded 14 kills with eight digs, and Albrecht added 11 kills, seven blocks, and 12 digs. Springer registered nine kills, three aces, four blocks, and 12 digs, while Zollars tallied seven kills. Milburn also posted 22 digs and two aces and handled 35 serve reception attempts without an error.

MVNU will return to action on Thursday night when the team will travel to Ohio Dominican University for another AMC South Division match that will start at 7:00 p.m. The Lady Cougars can clinch at least a share of the conference title with a win in that match.