Pirates Sink UNCP In Regular Season Finale

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- In its final regular season match of 2009 the UNCP volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-13) decision to Peach Belt Conference foe Armstrong Atlantic State on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena on the campus of the Pirates, as the Braves finish league play in eighth place.

UNCP (11-20, 2-12 PBC) could not sow the Pirates' offense, led by Brendyce Budd. Budd tallied 11 kills on 17 attempts without committing an attack error for AASU (24-8, 11-3 PBC). The Pirates recorded a team hitting percentage of .379 with setter Kris Standhardinger earning 29 assists directing the offense.

Tiara Anderson and Jessica Hartley led UNCP on offense with six kills apiece, with freshman setter Sam Wylie recording 20 assists.

The first set saw the two teams battle back and forth to the tune of 13 tie scores and three lead changes before the Pirates were able to pull away in the end to earn the 25-17 win. UNCP could not get anything going on offense in the second and third set as AASU allowed only 24 points over the final two games.

The Pirates have already clinched the No.2 seed in the PBC tournament set to begin next Friday at the Convocation Center in Aiken, S.C. UNCP will be the No. 8 seed and will face league champion Flagler. The Braves have already fallen twice to the Saints, dropping a 3-0 decision on Oct. 2 and then falling again 3-0 this past Friday.