COLUMBUS, Ga. – Using double-digit service aces for the fifth time this season along with nine team blocks, the UNC Pembroke volleyball team captured the quick three-set victory in Peach Belt Conference action over Columbus State on Saturday afternoon in the Lumpkin Center.
With the victory, UNCP (5-17, 2-8 PBC) snapped a three-game skid to pick up its second win in league play, while Columbus State (2-19, 0-11) remained winless in the PBC and suffered its ninth-straight defeat. The set scores were 25-19, 25-14 and 25-23.
Junior Alicia Paeplow led the serving campaign with five service aces, while Caroline Pridgen added four along with four block assists. Paeplow and freshman Bailee Jones split time as setters as Jones tallied 14 assists and Paeplow dished out 10. The Braves out-hit the Cougars with a .168 hitting percentage and 31 kills, and out-dug Columbus State 47-45.
Libero Ka'asha Jefferies totaled 16 digs and one service ace, while senior Nicole Mathews had 11 digs and a team-best nine kills. Josephine Yang was one dig shy of double-digit digs as she also contributed a pair of service aces to the Braves. Freshman Mckala Bozman led the squad's defensive effort at the net as she amassed one solo block and four block assists, while Cecilia Brandon had seven kills.
In the first set, the Braves registered 10 kills and hit .133, while capitalizing on eight errors by the Cougars who hit just .049 in the set. UNCP held Columbus State to a negative hitting percentage in set two, and busted out to a 13-4 lead to start the set and deny the Cougars a chance to rally back. Finally, in set three, Columbus State looked to have regained momentum to take the set, but the Black and Gold took its first lead at the 13-12 mark and held tight for the win on Paeplow's service ace.
Megan Frame led the Cougars with eight kills, while three others had five kills in the contest. Setter Cori Ehmen posted 24 assists, while Caytlin Merritt tallied 13 digs. The Cougars were held to a .062 hitting percentage and suffered 45 total errors.
The Braves will make their way back to Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court inside the English E. Jones Center in Pembroke to host league-leader Armstrong State (11-6, 7-2) in a 6 p.m. contest.
