PEMBROKE – Three Braves racked up double-digit kills in a thrilling, five-set win over Converse to give the UNC Pembroke volleyball squad its first victory of the campaign before the Black & Gold dropped a four-set affair to Shaw despite double-doubles form Bailee Jones and Miranda Cada.

MATCH ONE INFORMATION
Score: UNC Pembroke 3, Converse 2 (23-25, 25-10, 25-12, 20-25, 15-10)
Records: UNC Pembroke (1-4); Converse (1-4)
Location: Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court

HOW IT HAPPENED
Box Score/Play-by-Play

FIRST SET
-Neither team led by more than four in a back-and-forth first set that saw that Braves lead 17-13 after a Converse set error.
-Four-straight Valkyrie points knotted the game at 17-17, but the Black & Gold built its advantage back to three, just two points from the set, at 23-20.
-However, Converse snatched victory with the next five-consecutive points including an ace by Lauren Tharrington and a decisive kill from Kenzie Schmaltz.

SECOND SET
-The Braves blitzed Converse from the start of set two, winning 11 of 13 points at one point to grab a commanding 13-5 lead.
-UNCP kept its foot on the gas, claiming 12 of the final 17 points to snap a 13-set losing streak to start the season.

THIRD SET
-The hosts pick up right where they left off in the second set, using a 7-1 run to jump out front 12-5.
-Seven-straight points in UNCP's favor built the lead to 21-8 before a Makaylah Elliott kill capped off the 25-12 set victory.

FOURTH SET
-Much like the opening stanza, neither team could pull away until the very end of the fourth and once again it was the Valkyries who took advantage late.
-Deadlocked at 19-19, the visitors picked up six of the final seven rallies, including the final four, to claw back to even and force a fifth set.

FIFTH SET
-The Braves struck early in the fifth, claiming nine of the first 12 points to stake claim to a 9-3 lead they would never relinquish.
-Converse battled back to within two as late as 11-9, but four UNCP kills in the final five points put an exclamation mark on the Braves' first win of the season.

NOTABLES
-UNCP outhit Converse .245-.097 and set a season high with 56 kills and a season low in errors at 19. The Braves' eight blocks doubled that of the opposition.
-Aquia Jones (13), Madelyn Ashwell (12) and Elliott (12) all reached the double-digit kill mark, while all hitting over .270 with at least 21 attacks.
-Ashwell picked up her first double-double of the season as she added 11 digs to her 12 kills. Bailee Jones and Cada each dished out 24 assists, while Cayce Bell added a match-high 31 digs.

MATCH TWO INFORMATION
Score: UNC Pembroke 1, Shaw 3 (25-21, 20-25, 24-26, 19-25)
Records: UNC Pembroke (1-5); Shaw (3-0)
Location: Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court

HOW IT HAPPENED
Box Score/Play-by-Play

FIRST SET
-Looking for the quick start that had avoided them to this point of the season, the Braves tallied 12 of the final 17 points after trailing 16-13 to grab their first, first-set win of the season.

SECOND SET
-A 6-5 UNCP lead quickly turned into a 9-6 deficit as Shaw picked up four-straight points on a pair of kills and a pair of Brave errors.
-Down three at 16-13, the Black & Gold could get no closer, despite winning four of the final six points in the set.

THIRD SET
-Shaw jumped out to a five-point advantage at 9-4, but the Braves went on a 9-1 run to flip the switch and take a 15-11 lead.
-UNCP led by three at 23-20 and had a set point at 24-23, but could not convert. Three-straight Shaw points turned a 24-23 lead into a 26-24 set defeat.

FOURTH SET
-Down just one (14-13) and desperately trying to force a fifth set, the Black & Gold dropped seven of the next eight points to fall behind 21-14 and the Bears finished the job at 25-19.

NOTABLES
-Bailee Jones (16 assists, 13 digs) and Cada (21 assists, 12 digs) each picked up their first double-doubles of the season and were almost joined by Ashwell (13 digs, nine kills) and Bell (24 digs, nine assists).
-Aquia Jones (12) and Elliott (10) each posted double-digit kills for the second-straight match and Elliott led all Braves with a .364 hitting percentage.
-Each side has seven blocks and the Braves held an 84-79 advantage in digs, but Shaw outhit UNCP .194-.138 and finished the match with 13 more digs than the hosts (61-48).

UP NEXT
The Braves return to tournament play at the Francis Marion Invitational Friday and Saturday in Florence. UNCP will open Friday with a 10 a.m. tilt against Belmont Abbey before facing Chowan at 2 p.m. Saturday will see a pair of rematches for the Black & Gold, first with Converse at 1 p.m., followed by a second battle with Newberry at 7 p.m.