Related: Volleyball Forces Fourth Set With PBC-Leading USC Aiken
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Unable to decipher the strong serves from Armstrong State, the UNC Pembroke volleyball team surrendered 10 service aces in a straight-set, Peach Belt Conference (PBC) defeat at the hands of the Pirates Friday night at Alumni Arena, 23-25, 22-25, 11-25.
The Braves (3-28, 0-17 PBC) have now dropped 16-consecutive matches to the Pirates (21-6, 11-5 PBC), who have won four-straight overall and 47 of the 56 all-time meetings with the Black & Gold.
UNCP had its opportunities Friday evening, first seeing a 23-20 lead in the opening set evaporate in the form of five-consecutive Pirate points. A pair of kills, a service ace and two Braves' attack errors handed Armstrong State a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Black & Gold were out front 16-14 in the second period before the Pirates heated up to snag a 25-22 victory. The hosts carried that momentum into the third set, running away with the 25-11 win by holding UNCP to a -.103 attack percentage.
The visitors hit just .053 in the match, compared to a .198 clip from the Pirates. Each side racked up eight blocks, but Armstrong State held the advantage in kills (39-27), assists (39-25) and digs (42-33).
Sophomore
Aquia Jones registered a team-high 10 kills for the Braves, her second-straight contest with double digits and three of the last four. Senior
Caroline Pridgen added six kills and led the squad with a .278 hitting percentage, while tacking on five digs. Senior
Alicia Paeplow dished out 12 assists and added four digs and a trio of kills.
The Braves will wrap up the 2016 campaign Saturday, traveling to Flagler for a 2 p.m. tilt. The Saints (18-6, 14-2 PBC) are currently second in the league standings and lead the all-time series with UNCP, 17-1. Flagler downed the Black & Gold in straight sets earlier this season in a neutral-site affair.
