UNCP Wows Crowd With Epic Five-Set Victory

PEMBROKE – Senior Rebecca Morgan and junior Ashlyn Rebok helped the UNCP volleyball team continues its winning streak to three games as they registered career-highs in the attention-grabbing five-set triumph over Peach Belt Conference foe Augusta State, 3-2, on Friday evening in the English E. Jones Center. 

In a game that recognized five seniors, the Lady Braves (14-15, 6-7 PBC) proved their endurance at the net and in the back court. Despite being outhit by Augusta State (14-17, 5-8) with a .218 hitting percentage, the Lady Braves used determination to put the game away.

Senior Tiara Anderson started the energy for the Lady Braves on a blistering kill in game one and sealed the victory on a service ace in game five. Anderson delivered 16 kills on 35 attempts for a .286 hitting percentage.

The Lady Braves captured game one with a score of 25-23 before Augusta State returned to take game two, 25-23. UNCP regrouped for game three and posted the 25-20 win but yet again the Jaguars sought the 25-19 win in game four. The final game began with UNCP leading at the 7-2 mark until the Jaguars caught up and paced the Black and Gold to a final 21-19 victory.

Morgan led the Black and Gold as she tallied a double-double with a personal-best 24 kills and 17 digs, while Rebok registered a double-double with a career-best 59 assists and 12 digs. Junior Shay Peterson led the team with a .438 hitting percentage as she nailed eight kills, while Heather Bolwerk and Hannah Hill totaled nine and eight kills, respectively.

On the defensive side of the match, libero Marissa Baker was behind 33 digs while Chelsea Phillips had 12. The Lady Braves finished the match with three block solos with Hill clipped two solo blocks and three block assists. UNCP put down eight services aces with Morgan grabbing three.

"I told the seniors this was going to be an emotional match but we had to get through the first couple of points," said UNCP head coach Jeff Billington. "I am going to miss the seniors because they have been great for this program."

Both teams tallied a 58 percent sideout percentage as Augusta State had five players register double-digit kills and three have double-digit digs. 

The Lady Braves will compete in their last home game of the season for third place in the conference on Saturday as the Black and Gold hosts Peach Belt Conference rival Montevallo in the English E. Jones Center at 12 p.m.

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