CONWAY, Ark. - Tonight's match for UCA volleyball meant more than a home opener for their ASUN season. While EKU claimed the heartbreaker in five, it was more about what the Sugar Bears earned than anything else. 

UCA got the opportunity to help the volleyball community grow as a family as they dedicated the night to Molly Gerwig. Gerwig is the assistant coach for Houston Baptist and is currently battling Colon Cancer. The Sugar Bears gathered funds throughout the night to help raise money for Gerwig and her battle. Through these efforts, UCA has raised $675 and will continue to raise money through the GoFundMe page located in the tweet below.
 

 In a match that was back and forth, graduate student Amari Mitchell truly rose to the challenge. The middle blocker had a career night and a historic night as her 13 total blocks put her fourth in school history for a single match. Her 11 assisted blocks also put her in high marks, which placed her fourth in school history for that total. Her excellence on the court was not limited to her defense, as she posted 11 kills on a .556 hitting percentage. Overall her night was incredible as she helped guide the Sugar Bears into the fifth set before they eventually fell. 

Set 1:
The first set was the tone-setter for the rest of the match as both sides rallied back in significant ways. While both sides battled, it was EKU that controlled it for most of the first set. The Sugar Bears trailed all the way up until they claimed it back 18-17. UCA only held the lead for a minute as EKU snatched it up at 23-22 and finished it off two points later. 

Set 2:
UCA came out revitalized and fresh for the second set as they dominated out of the gate. Their biggest lead of the afternoon came when sophomore Alexis Stumbough grabbed her fifth kill of the match and helped produce a 14-6 lead. While that lead dwindled slightly, it did not go down far as the Sugar Bears continued to apply massive defensive pressure. UCA contained every offensive attack the Colonels offered for the set as they allowed a -.040 hitting percentage. That defensive showcased allowed the Sugar Bears to even it up as they won the set 25-19.

Set 3:
UCA continued their advantage in the early goings of the set as they initially went up 4-0. That mark was matched a little later as EKU forced the Sugar Bears into an early timeout as they went on a run to tie it up 8-8. It was a similar trend throughout the rest as UCA had a slight advantage at 17-15. However,  EKU took over from there with five straight points and coasted the rest of the way to a 25-21 set victory. 

Set 4:
The fourth set mimicked the start of the third in a near-identical fashion as the Sugar Bears led before EKU took the lead 8-7. However, it was an entirely different UCA team at that point, as they took that deficit as a challenge. Once the Colonels held the lead at 11-9, the Sugar Bears took over with eight straight points.  While some of those points were brought on by EKU errors, it was everyone getting involved that produced the rally. Senior Lexi Miller started it with a kill, and freshman Mackenzie Vernon finished it with a kill. That lead was unsurmountable as the Sugar Bears coasted to a 25-15 set victory. 

Set 5:
EKU started off too strong for UCA, and that point an end to the night. The Colonels came out with a 9-3 lead and continued to support that comfortable difference. The Sugar Bears staged a slight comeback, but it was in vain as EKU eventually claimed the set 15-10 and the match 3-2. 

Next, the Sugar Bears will return to action at home on Sunday as they take on Bellarmine in another ASUN matchup. That match will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Prince Center.

Quote from head coach John Newberry:
"I thought we played fairly solid majority of the time. EKU stuck to their game plan and had a little bit better ball control. Really proud of our outside hitter production and also our middle hitter production. I thought Mitchell had a great blocking game today and a great attacking game as well. I look forward to getting back in the gym and competing against Bellarmine Sunday."