By Zack Ciboth
The UNC Pembroke volleyball team picked up a Conference Carolinas victory over the Barton College Bulldogs Tuesday night in Wilson, N.C. After both teams split the first two sets the Braves rallied together to take the next two sets from Barton en route to a 3-1 win (25-19,26-28,25-17,25-22)
The Braves improve to 4-8 on the season and 1-1 in Conference play. The Bulldogs fall to 1-9 on the year and 0-4 in Conference play.
The Braves jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the match before the Bulldogs put together a 5-0 run to tie it at 7-7 before the Braves regained the lead at 8-7 on a service error. The Braves scored three straight points on kills to take a 11-8 lead. Barton eventually tied the game back up at 15-15 but that did not slow down the Braves taking the lead on a kill by Mckenna Hayes to make it 16-15. Braves closed the set out on a 4-0 run to take a 1-0 lead.
UNC Pembroke keep their momentum rolling in the second set and jumped out the lead from the start and despite the Bulldogs keeping close with the Braves, they didn’t surrender the lead for majority of the match until late in the match when the Braves were looking to go up 2-0 the Bulldogs tied the match up at 24-24 with a scoring run. Barton rallied and took four of the last six points to tie up the match at 1-1.
The third set saw a back-and-forth contest between the two teams with the Braves and Bulldogs trading point for point as the set went on. The match turned in the Braves favor when Abby Peduzzi helped lead a scoring run to jump out to a 17-12 lead. From there the Braves kept rolling and closed things out for the 2-1 lead.
The fourth set saw the Bulldogs start off fast and control majority of the match with a 11-7 lead before the Braves went on a run to take the 12-11 lead on a kill from Hayes. The Bulldogs took back the lead and was looking to close out the set and force a fifth set with a 22-20 lead, but the Braves closed out the match and the win on a 5-0 run.
Peduzzi led the offensive attack coming away with 16 kills, Savannah Whaley followed with 15 kills and Hayes had nine. On the service line for the Braves Whaley recorded three aces, Peduzzi and Tyler Patterson each had one ace. Patterson led the way for the Braves in assist coming away with 47 on the night, Whaley recorded two assist and Karagyn Durco with one.
On the defensive side of the net Ruby Countryman put up a strong performance at the net putting up three blocks. Hayes had three blocks as well and Precious Daley came away with two. Durco led the Braves with 18 digs, Brette Doile followed with 17 and Peduzzi with 11.
UNCP is back in action at home Friday night when Mount Olive comes to town for a conference matchup. Match time is set for 6 p.m. inside Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.