PEMBROKE – Despite a solid effort from seniors Marissa Baker and Sarah Bower, the UNC Pembroke volleyball team fell in straight-sets to Columbus State on senior night Friday evening at the English E. Jones center. The Cougars won it sets of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-22.
Errors were the Achilles heel for the Lady Braves (15-19, 4-13 PBC), who were limited to a .024 attack percentage after committing 29 hitting errors. Columbus State (19-10, 11-6) was also able to edge the Black and Gold at the net, totaling six team blocks, compared to just two from UNCP.
Baker paced the UNCP attack, matching a game-high 10 kills, while Caroline Pridgen finished the night with nine kills hitting .471 percent. Keeping the hitters active, Shekinah-Joy Toloumu churned out all 29 of the Lady Braves' assist in the outing. The back row was led by the Sabrina Gonzalez who notched 10 digs, as Baker and Danielle Brown chipped in another nine digs apiece. Cecilia Brandon, who is second in the Peach Belt Conference in block assists, tallied two block assists tonight for the Lady Braves.
The Cougars got a double-double from Kierston Smith, including 20 assists and 13 digs, while the offense relied on 10 kills from Katie Poole. At the net it was Erika Gelzinyte and Kylie Beaubien who made the most noise, turning in four blocks each.
Columbus State set the tempo in the opening set, controlling the pace the majority of the way. Smith led the Cougars on a six-point run, giving Columbus State a 15-9 advantage, which they held on to the rest of the way. Smith proved to be the spark for the Cougars in the first set, earning match point on a service ace.
Smith and the Cougars continued to dominate the Lady Braves in the second set, jumping out to an early 7-1 lead. Gonzalez helped UNCP to cut the deficit to two, 11-9, but Columbus State answered back with a 6-1 to stretch its lead out to 16-10. Gelzinyte served the last three points of the set for the Cougars, with match point coming on a kill from Poole.
UNCP threatened a comeback attempt in the third set after a kill from Baker put the Black and Gold up 9-5, but Columbus State fought back, tying the third frame up at a 10-10. From there the Cougars took advantage of multiple UNCP attack errors, earning seven-straight points on the strong serving of Smith. Bower put an end to the run, giving the Lady Braves side out with a kill. The Black and Gold however were not able to make up the deficit, as a kill from McKenzie Bragg closed out the match, giving Columbus State the three-set victory.
The Lady Braves will return to the court tomorrow in the final two matches of the regular season. UNCP will start its day with a matchup at noon against Montevallo (18-10, 10-7) inside of the English E. Jones Center, then hit the road to Hartsville, S.C., to battle Coker (3-26) at 6 p.m. at the Timberlake-Lawton Gym.
