COLUMBUS, Ga. – Senior Caroline Pridgen hit .450 with nine kills and classmate Alicia Paeplow notched her third double-double of the season, but the UNC Pembroke volleyball squad fell in straight sets to Peach Belt Conference (PBC) foe Columbus State Friday night at the Frank G. Lumpkin Center.

The Braves (2-22, 0-11 PBC) have now dropped five of the seven all-time meetings with the Cougars (12-8, 3-7 PBC), who jump into a tie for eighth in the league standings, the last spot that secures a berth in the upcoming conference tournament.

The 19-25, 19-25, 22-25 setback for the Black & Gold is their fifth straight, but the Braves showed some flashes of brilliance Friday. To go along with Pridgen and Paeplow's stellar performances, freshmen Makaylah Elliott and Aquia Jones each racked up six kills. Pridgen added three blocks to the effort to bring her season total to 69, third best in the PBC. Paeplow added two kills and three blocks to her 11-assist, 10-dig performance. Sophomore Bailee Jones paced the Braves with 12 assists and junior Cayce Bell led the team in digs with 13. Bell added a season-high four service aces.

After winning the opening set 25-19, the hosts' momentum started to ramp up with an 8-0 in set two to break a 5-5 tie. The squads were tied 19-19 in the final stanza prior to the Cougars winning four-consecutive rallied en route to the victory.

Columbus State compiled a hitting percentage over .300 in the final two sets and ran up a .301 mark for the match. UNCP hit .151 overall, its second-highest clip in a loss since Sept. 10, a span of 14 matches. The Braves held a 4-2 advantage in the block column, but Columbus State racked up more kills, service aces, assists and digs than the Black & Gold.

The Braves will now make the 160-mile trek to Montevallo for a Saturday affair with the Falcons (11-10, 4-7 PBC). First serve is set for 2 p.m. at Trustmark Arena. Montevallo got the best of UNCP in straight sets Sept. 23 in Pembroke. The Falcons have won 14 of the 15 all-time meetings with the Black & Gold.