WINGATE – The UNC Pembroke volleyball team suffered a pair of losses on Tuesday at the Wingate Tri-Match to No. 23 Wingate in three sets and Erskine in a tough five-set battle in regional play inside the Cuddy Arena.

The Braves (1-4) had set scores of 16-25, 18-25, 15-25 with Wingate (4-1) and scores of 13-25, 12-25, 25-19, 25-21, 8-15 with Erskine (2-2).

Senior Nicole Mathews registered 20 kills, 13 of which came in the contest with Erskine, and posted a double-double against the Flying Fleet with 14 digs. Junior Caroline Pridgen combined for 12 kills, as well as 12 blocks (11 block assists), eight of which came against Erskine, while Ka'asha Jefferies had a team-best 32 digs.

Nationally-ranked Wingate dished out a .298 hitting percentage and 53 kills, while the Black and Gold tallied a team-best eight kills in the third set of the first game and 21 overall kills.

Despite an attempted comeback in the third and fourth sets after Erskine took the first two sets, the Braves fell short in claiming the fifth set. The Braves again were out-hit in the contest, but posted a .219 hitting percentage and .333 hitting percentage in the third and fourth sets, respectively. The Black and Gold were threats at the net in its blocking presence as the squad totaled 11 team blocks.

Abby Saehler led the Bulldogs with 11 kills, while Kimberly Hovey tallied a team-best 17 digs. Erskine was led by both Catherine McAlister and Kelly Sullivan with 13 kills, while Kendall Kirk was behind 23 digs.

The Braves will head to their next tournament in St. Petersburg, Fla., to take part in the Eckerd College Classic where UNCP will face Seton Hill (4-0) at 10 a.m. and Eckerd (2-1) at 3 p.m. on Friday.