JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The UNCP volleyball team was overwhelmed by a strong hitting game in the first match of the Eagle Invitational as it was shutout 3-0 by Palm Beach Atlantic Friday evening at the Holt Fieldhouse. The score of the three sets were 25-20, 25-19, 25-11. 

The Lady Braves (5-5) registered 28 team kills in the match and were led by junior Marissa Baker who slammed down 10 kills for a .320 hitting percentage. Shay Peterson and Sawyer Gray contributed eight and seven kills, respectively, for the Black and Gold. The Sailfish (10-2) outhit UNCP as they notched a .440 hitting percentage in the third and final set. Christina Alessi had a team-best 10 kills for PBA while Mariela Quesada added nine kills.

Multiple errors caused UNCP to be down quick in the first set. With the Lady Braves trailing 8-13, Jennifer Grunden led UNCP to a 5-0 serving run to tie the score. Grunden also had a team-high nine digs. Melissa Buckingham and Leslie Grizzle's consistent serving helped the Sailfish to take the first set. Buckingham and Grizzle served six and five points, respectively, for PBA.

Sawyer Gray put up consecutive service aces in the second set to keep the Black and Gold in the game as she served four straight points. Gray also posted two kills in the set. She currently leads the Lady Braves with 90 kills for the 2012 season. 

The third set was completely dominated by the Sailfish as they collected five services aces and 12 kills. The Lady Braves saw their strongest hitting performance in the third set with eight kills coming collectively from Baker, Gray, Peterson and Megan Gallimore.

The Lady Braves will look to regroup and rebound as they continue play in the Eagle Invitational on Saturday. UNCP will take on Carson-Newman (0-3) at 9 a.m. followed by a match with Lincoln Memorial (5-3) at 1 p.m. All matches take place in the Holt Fieldhouse.