Related: Volleyball Sweeps GRU Augusta
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Home standing Georgia College put an end to the UNC Pembroke volleyball team's four-game win streak, as the Bobcats outlasted the Lady Braves, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon in Peach Belt Conference action inside of the Centennial Center. The Bobcats won by scores of 25-16, 25-27, 25-18 and 30-28.
The win marked just the second conference victory for Bobcats (5-22, 2-15 PBC) in their inaugural season. The Lady Braves (15-18, 4-12) and Georgia College split the regular-season series, putting the very young all-time series at one win apiece.
"We didn't play to our potential today and we lacked energy," said UNCP head coach Angie Byrd.
Three members of the Black and Gold finished the day with double-double outings, including powerful hitting performances from Sarah Bower (18 kills, 11 digs) and Morgan Westphal (17 kills, 13 digs). Shekinah-Joy Toloumu also made a major contribution for the Lady Braves, turning in 47 assists and 14 digs.
The Bobcats used a strong performance at the net to overcome the Lady Braves, totaling 11 blocks compared to just five from UNCP. Ashley Savransky finished with six blocks, including one solo block, while Blake Willoughby and Ella Anastasiades chipped in four block assists each. Rachel Reynolds tallied a match-high 19 kills and Blake Willoughby added another 16 kills to the Georgia College winning effort.
Georgia College dominated throughout the entire first set with strong hitting and by taking advantage of UNCP errors. The Bobcats hit .382 in the opening frame and made no attacking errors. Reynolds finished things off in set one with a service ace, putting the Bobcats up 1-0.
UNCP came back in the second set after a six-point run by Marissa Baker put the Lady Braves up, 12-6. The Black and Gold led for the majority of the set, but the Bobcats made a run towards the end, forcing multiple set-point attempts. Bower used a kill to bring UNCP to set point with a service ace, and Westphall slammed a kill to take set two.
The Bobcats came back in set three with ease, as Haley Ashworth helped Georgia College take the lead, 12-7, with a 4-0 run. The Bobcats led the remainder of the frame, and depended on Reynolds once again who used a kill to win the third stanza.
The final set proved to be a back-and-forth battle as UNCP gave its all in attempts to force a tie-breaker set. Bower brought the Lady Braves to their first set-point attempt with a kill, but the set would continue for several more points. Set four saw five ties after the initial set point atempt, but Ashworth served the Bobcats to victory with the help of back-to-back UNCP attack errors.
UNCP will look to rebound on Friday when the Lady Braves return home to Pembroke for a PBC contest with Columbus State (18-10, 10-6) at 7 p.m. inside of the English E. Jones Center. Friday's match will be senior night for the Lady Braves, celebrating the 2013 senior class of Marissa Baker and Sarah Bower.
