PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke volleyball team suffered a shutout loss to Lander in its opening match of the day, but used a high-energy showing in the late match to blow past Claflin, 3-1, and forge a Saturday split on Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

The Braves (3-10, 0-2 PBC) had set scores of 25-22, 25-232, 25-11 against Lander (10-2, 2-0) and scores of 25-10, 25-19, 22-25, 25-10 with Claflin (1-4).

Senior Nicole Mathews led the Braves with a combined 28 kills on the day, including 15 against Lander, while also posting 21 digs with 11 coming against Claflin. Caroline Pridgen, Cecilia Brandon and Mallory Davis all had double-digit kills in the two contests, while Alicia Paeplow dished out 62 assists. 

The Braves finished the contest with Claflin with 16 service aces behind the effort of Paeplow with seven and Ka'asha Jefferies with six. UNCP also posted 18 block assists, as Pridgen led the team with seven.

Lander's attack at the net was led by Khiani Kelly with 14 kills, Halle Dotson with 12 and Kendall Korte with nine to out-hit the Braves, 41-38. Despite being down 19-12 in the first set, the Braves held tight in the first set with a .231 hitting percentage, but the Bearcats pulled ahead for the win. An early lead in the second set allowed the Bearcats to hold off UNCP's late comeback and 12 combined team kills let Lander take the 3-0 victory.

The Braves dominated in their opening set with the Panthers on serving by Paeplow with three service aces for a 13-5 lead which Claflin was unable to recover from as UNCP took set one. A 12-1 run early in the second set and a .269 hitting percentage allowed the Braves to take the 2-0 lead. Claflin inched closer after winning set three by using a .258 hitting percentage, but UNCP denied any comeback in set four as the Braves hit .500 with 12 kills for the 3-1 win. 

Ali Kirk dished out a game-high 33 assists for Lander, while three different Bearcats logged double-digit digs. Bria Bronston carried a team-best nine kills for Claflin, while Sonia Rosales had 27 assists and Jhi Piper-Murles logged 10 digs.

The Braves will head out on the road for three-straight contests beginning with the short trip up Interstate-74 to Laurinburg to face St. Andrews (3-5) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.