PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke volleyball squad racked up its highest hitting percentage in the last eight matches, but fell in straight sets to Lander in a Peach Belt Conference (PBC) tilt Tuesday night at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

The Braves (1-17, 0-8 PBC) have now dropped 11-straight overall after the 20-25, 17-25, 23-25 defeat, while the Bearcats (11-4, 3-4 PBC) snapped a four-game skid and swept the season-series with the Black & Gold.

The hosts showed some flashes of brilliance throughout the match, even recording more digs than Lander by a 62-58 margin. UNCP's .160 hitting percentage is the highest since Sept. 10 against Newberry.

The sides were knotted 16-16 in the opening set, but the Bearcats rattled off five-consecutive points to snag a 21-16 lead and never looked back. In the third stanza, it was a 22-22 tie after a Caroline Pridgen kill and the momentum looked to be swinging to the Braves. But Lander's Halle Dotson had two kills in the final four points to lock up the win for the visitors.

Lander hit .238 with 44 kills, assisting on 41 of them, while the Braves assisted on 35 of their 37 kills. The Bearcats' strong serves produced seven aces and the guests blocked eight balls to UNCP's five.

Pridgen led all Braves with 11 kills, the fifth time this season she's been in double digits. Alicia Paeplow was just one kill away from a triple-double, notching nine kills, 13 assists and 11 digs, her first double-double of the year. Bailee Jones also recorded a double-double on 18 assists and 12 digs, her fourth such match of the season.

The Braves are back in action Friday, making the 20-mile trek to St. Andrews in Laurinburg. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at Harris Court. The Braves and Knights have met just once since 2008, a 3-1 St. Andrews win last season. UNCP leads the all-time series 24-23 dating back to the first meeting in 1981.