Related: Montevallo Bests Volleyball In Home Opener

PEMBROKE – Looking to right the ship on the 2016 campaign, the UNC Pembroke volleyball team battled tough with Columbus State Saturday afternoon at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court, but eventually fell in straight sets to the Cougars in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) contest.

The Braves (1-13, 0-4 PBC) see their losing streak bumped to seven matches with the 22-25, 17-25, 23-25 defeat, while the Cougars (8-4, 1-3 PBC) notch their first league win and have now won five of the seven all-time meetings between the teams.

The hosts showed some real signs of life in the third set, even taking a 19-18 lead at one point. But the Cougars won the next five points and seven of 11 to prevent a fourth set.

UNCP racked up six service aces, the second most in a match this season, led by two apiece from Josephine Yang and Alexis Hollis. Bailee Jones led the Brave offense with 25 assists and a .750 hitting percentage, three kills on four attempts. Caroline Pridgen knocked down a team-high nine kills at a .316 clip and recorded four block assists. Libero Cayce Bell registered 16 digs, tops on the squad, and added one assist.

Columbus State attacked at a .218 mark to the Black & Gold's .067, and held a 40-29 advantage in total kills. The Cougars blocked seven UNCP attacks and dug the ball 50 times, while the Braves racked up five blocks and 44 digs.

The Braves play host to Francis Marion Wednesday, a 7 p.m. start in Pembroke. The Patriots (8-5, 2-2 PBC) are winners of two-straight PBC contests, wins over Columbus State and Montevallo. Last season, the Braves got the bests of Francis Marion in two, five-set affairs.