The UCA Sugar Bears faced off against the Lipscomb Bisons on Oct. 20 in Nashville, Tennessee, which resulted in a five-set victory for UCA, 3-2.

The first set began with a service error against the Bisons, resulting in the first point of the game going to UCA. Lipscomb (10-9, 7-1 ASUN) quickly took control after multiple attack errors, kills and service aces, giving Lipscomb a 9-5 lead. UCA (10-9, ASUN  7-1) struck back with two attack errors against the Bisons, making the score 9-7. Soon after the two attack errors, Lipscomb went on a 6-0 run, bringing the score to 15-7. Lipscomb continued to keep the Sugar Bears in check and would go on to win the first set 25-13. 

UCA began the second set with a kill from senior right-side hitter Mackenzie Vernon, followed by an attack error by the Bisons, putting the Bears ahead 2-0. The Sugar Bears continued to hold a small lead over Lipscomb. This wouldn’t be the case for long as UCA went on a 5-0 run with a kill by freshman outside hitter Regan Harp, an ace by Harp, and two kills from redshirt sophomore outside hitter Laci Bohannan, leading to UCA winning the second set of the game. 

The Sugar Bears started off the third set strong, scoring on two attack errors by the Bisons, as well as a kill by Vernon. UCA took the early 3-0 lead. Lipscomb would not make it easy for the Sugar Bears, as they eventually tied the setup at eight after multiple attack errors by UCA. The third set continued to go back and forth, with the two teams tied at 23-23. A kill by Vernon gave UCA the set point. The next set ended with a kill by junior setter Caylon Koons, leading to a third-set victory for UCA. The Sugar Bears took a 2-1 lead over Lipscomb. 

The Bisons scored five of the first seven points in the fourth set. After a service error gave UCA a point, Lipscomb went on a 3-0 run and led 8-3. Unfortunately for the Sugar Bears, Lipscomb kept them in check throughout the entire set and eventually took a 19-8 lead. UCA got a glimpse of hope after three attack errors by the Bisons. Lipscomb received the next point on a service error by Bohannan. UCA scored the next two on kills by senior middle blocker Allison Holloway and Bohannan, cutting the lead down to seven for Lipscomb. UCA only scored one more point in the fourth set, leading to a 25-14 Bison victory.

With a service ace by freshman defensive specialist Alexa Carranza, the Sugar Bears struck first in the fifth and final set. UCA continued its domination after a kill by Harp and Bohannan, an attack error by Lipscomb, another kill by Harp and another ace by Carranza. The Sugar Bears took the early 6-0 lead. Lipscomb was not able to recover as UCA took the fifth and final set with a score of 15-8, winning the match against the Bisons, 3-2.

Two days later, UCA had a road match against Florida Gulf Coast, where they lost three sets to one, snapping a nine-game win streak.

UCA will be back at home Friday, Oct. 25 to take on Queens (6-13, ASUN 3-5) at 6 p.m.