By Zack Ciboth, Sports Editor
Volleyball Swept On The Road.
The UNC Pembroke volleyball team fell on the road Friday night against the Erskine Flying Fleet in Conference Carolina action. The Flying Fleet took advantage and early and despite the Braves fighting to stay in it at times they fell in three straight sets dropping the match (18-25,22-25,23-25) snapping a five game win streak for the Braves.
Vanja Przulj led the way in kills finishing with 16 on the night, Abby Peduzzi followed with 13 kills and Ruby Countryman with five. On the assists side Katie Pressley finished with 34 assist on the night with Hope Turbyfill and Peduzzi with two each. Peduzzi, Pressley, Turbyfill also added to their stat line in digs with 11 digs and 10 digs each. Katelynn Swain recorded two blocks at the net and three aces.
The Braves (11-8, 6-3 CC) will travel to Lander, S.C for a non conference matchup with the Lander Bobcats (17-2, 5-0 PBC) Tuesday night with first serve set for 6 p.m.
Cross Country Fair Well at Invite
In the UAH Invitational held this past Saturday in Huntsville, Alabama the UNC Pembroke men’s and women’s faired well in placing 14th as a team on the mens side in the 8k race and the women’s placed 23rd in the 5k race. The race consisted of four teams that were nationally ranked and then six teams that were ranked inside the top ten in the region rankings out of a total of 30 teams on the men’s side. The women’s side consisted of five top ten region teams.
Jack Pheiffer finished with the best time on the mens side when he crossed at (25:30.2) to place 80th in the race. Delsin Burkhart and Norman Junker followed behind placing 89th and 105th with times of (25:36.3) and (25:45.6) as the top three finishers for the mens side.
On the women’s side the top three finishers consisted of Moureen Kimiyo placing 55th with a time of (18.42.6), Jackline Kosgei who was recently Conference Carolina’s Runner Of The Week followed behind with a 61st place finish and Malea Bennewitz in 176th with times of (18:48.0) and (20:33.20.
The Braves will now turn their focus to next Saturday October 21st when they will compete in the Conference Carolina Championship held at McAlpine Park held in Charlotte, N.C. The men’s race is slated for 9 a.m and the women’s race will follow at 10 a.m.
Braves & Patriots Draw In Battle of I-95
The UNC Pembroke and Francis Marion women’s soccer teams battled from start to finish this past Saturday afternoon in Florence, S.C for the battle of I-95. Despite the Patriots scoring two goals of their own and the Braves with the help of Ashleigh Harris and Bea Vazquez scoring two goals as well in the first half to be tied 2-2 at halftime. Neither side could get anything in goal in the last 45 minutes as the game ended in a draw for both sides.
Harris led the way for the Braves offense with five shots , three on goal and coming away with a goal of her own in the 10th minute of the match. Vazquez followed with two shots , one on goal shot which was good for a score in the 25th minute. Anna Grossheim had three shots with two coming on goal and Mercy Bell had two shots in the game with both coming on goal.
The Braves (5-3-2, 4-1-2 CC) will be back in action at home on Wednesday when they welcome Wingate (7-2-1, 4-2 SAC) to LREMC Stadium with kickoff set for 5 p.m.
Comeback Attempt Falls Short For the Braves
The UNC Pembroke Braves football team fell on the road Saturday afternoon when they traveled up to Frostburg, Maryland for the a matchup with the Frostburg State Bobcats in Mountain East Conference battle. Despite the Braves trimming the lead of the Bobcats over time it was not enough as a late touchdown by Frostburg State sealed the 31-21 win. With this loss the Braves fall to 1-2 on the road this season.
In the loss, Braves Colin Johnson finished 12-of-32 passing attempts throwing for 125-yards and rushing for 26-yards on nine attempts and coming away with a touchdown through the air. Sincere Baines rushed for 64-yards on the ground on 13 carries and a touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball Jamae Blank had eight sacks on the afternoon with two being sacks for a loss. Saige Ley finished with 10 tackles and Sean Hill followed with nine.
The Braves (3-3, 2-3 MEC) will return to Pembroke Saturday afternoon for a noon kickoff at Grace P. Johnson Stadium when they host Mountain East Conference foe Fairmont State (5-1, 3-1 MEC).