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FLORENCE, S.C. – A career-high in blocks from senior Alicia Paeplow and three players with double-digit digs were not enough for the UNC Pembroke volleyball team to upset Armstrong State in a Peach Belt Conference (PBC) affair Saturday afternoon at the Smith University Center, as the Pirates claimed victory in three sets, 25-23, 25-17, 26-24.

The Braves (2-19, 0-10 PBC) were playing their second and final neutral-site match on the campus of Francis Marion after being displaced from Pembroke by the effects of Hurricane Matthew. The Pirates (15-2, 5-1 PBC) rebound from their first league loss Friday night and sit second in the PBC standings.

The Black & Gold showed fight from the beginning, jumping out to a 14-7 lead in the opening set. However, the Pirates won seven of the next eight rallies to pull within one and the squads traded blows to 23-23. Armstrong State used a pair of kills from Reagan Grooms to complete the comeback and go up one set to none.

In set two, the Braves once again started fast, opening up an 8-3 advantage before surrendering five-consecutive points. Tied at 14-14, the Pirates strung together three points and never trailed again en route to the 25-17 victory.

It was the Braves attempting to come from behind in the final stanza after finding themselves down 16-9. Five of the next six points went UNCP's way to cut the deficit to 17-14 and the hosts used three-consecutive tallies down 24-21 to fend off a trio of Armstrong State match points. But the Pirates' Madison Sox notched a kill to put her squad up 25-24 and Grooms recorded her second service ace of the match to push the visitors across the finish line.

Paeplow added seven kills to her career-block day and also racked up nine assists and six digs. Caroline Pridgen led the Black & Gold with eight kills on 24 attempts and added two blocks, a pair of digs and an assist. Makaylah Elliott put down six kills and tied a season high with four blocks.

The trio of Cayce Bell, Josephine Yang and Bailee Jones totaled 39 of UNCP's 58 digs, and Jones added 13 assists for her fifth double-double of the season.

The Braves return home for the first time in two weeks Tuesday for a pair of matches at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. The Black & Gold will do battle with Barton at 5 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. tilt with Belmont Abbey. The Bulldogs (13-7) got the best of UNCP in four sets earlier this season, while the Crusaders (12-9) have won 11 of their last 12 matches dating back to Sept. 16.