By Zack Ciboth, Sports Editor
The UNC Pembroke volleyball team fell on the road Wednesday night to the Francis Marion Patriots in the battle for l-95 in Conference Carolina play. A back and forth start that saw the Braves claim the early advantage quickly dwindled as the Patriots took over and went on to win 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-27, 19-25)
The Braves and Patriots traded shot for shot in the first set. The Patriots 13-9 lead at one point turned into a Braves 16-15 lead after a 4-0 scoring run from UNCP and it would continue to be back and forth until the Braves found a way to pull away with the set 25-22. The second set saw the Patriots in control early on, but the braves would not go down without a fight finding themselves back in the set and tying the set 23-23 but FMU overcame the Braves attack and took the set 23-25 to tie the match at 1-1.
The third set was another closely contested set where the Patriots jumped out to an early lead and quickly saw it be erased by a Braves attack tying the match at 12-12. Tied at 23-23 when a crucial error by the Patriots gave the Braves the lead but kills from a couple of FMU players helped erased the deficit and the take the set 25-27 and the 2-1 lead. The fourth set saw the Patriots take the lead and hold on to it for good coming away with the 25-19 and take the match.
Vanja Przulj finished the night with 16 kills and 18 digs, Ruby Countryman had 13 kills and four blocks at the net, Abby Peduzzi had nine kills on the night. Karagyn Durco had 19 assists on the night, Katie Pressley followed with 14 and Tyler Patterson with 12. Hope Turbyfill had 24 digs and one ace, Kyleigh Coghlan had 10 digs and Katelyn West had three blocks at the net.
The Braves (6-6, 1-1 CC) contine Conference play on the road as they will take on North Greenville (8-3, 1-0 CC). First serve is set for 7 p.m.