MAYFIELD, Ky. – Cumberland University continued its run of perfect matches to start the season as the Bulldogs won their fifth straight 3-0 match, opening TranSouth Conference play with a victory over Mid-Continent University at the Cougar Center on Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs (5-0, 1-0) jumped on top early on, winning five of the first six points of the match en route to a 25-17 win in the first set. CU closed out the contest with 25-15 and 25-13 victories in the final two sets.

Mid-Continent (1-3, 0-1) cut the lead to two at 6-4 before the Bulldogs, whose longest run of consecutive points was just three in the opening set, began to steadily add to their lead, despite committing six attack errors.

In the second set, MCU opened strong, building a three-point lead before Cumberland retook the lead and held it for good. A kill by Laura DeGear off Taylor Denney’s assist started a 6-0 run that also included a pair of service aces by Meghan Gass. After the Cougars made it a one-point game at 10-9, CU scored nine of the next 10 points to put the set out of reach.

Cumberland recorded its strongest set in the third, making just one attack error. The Bulldogs scored never trailed in the set as MCU’s initial serve went into the net. The Cougars cut the Cumberland lead to a single point at 7-6 before the Bulldogs began a 10-1 stretch to open a double-digit advantage. The last point of the span came with Denney serving. The Cougars’ reception crossed over the net and Kaysi Arnold pounded it back for one of her 8 kills in the match.

Arnold finished with an attack percentage of .412 with just one error. Denney paced the Bulldogs with 15 assists, while Gass had a dozen.

The Volleydawgs return to action Friday when they make the short trip to Nashville to participate in the Scott Jones Classic at Trevecca Nazarene University. CU will play Milligan College at 11 a.m. before taking on Brescia University at 1 p.m. On Saturday, the Bulldogs will face Lindsey Wilson College at 3 p.m. and then the host Trojans at 5 p.m.