By Zack Ciboth
The UNC Pembroke Athletic programs had a strong showing this past weekend with Volleyball and Swimming picking up victories while Soccer and Cross Country put on strong showing in their respective events. Here is what happened over the weekend.
Volleyball Takes Road Match Over Belmont Abbey
The UNC Pembroke team picked up a convincing 3-1 win over the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in conference carolinas action. The Braves took the first set and finished off the Crusaders with a two-set rally to take the following scores (25-16, 20-25, 25-22, 25-19).
Savannah Whaley led the Braves offensive attack with 12 kills, Abby Peduzzi followed with eight kills and Ruby Countryman with seven. Tyler Patterson led the Braves with 35 assists, Peduzzi recorded four and Katelynn Swain with two.
On the defensive side of the net Brette Doile helped anchor down the defense with 21 digs, Peduzzi followed with 15 and Patterson with 12. Swain and Mckenna Hayes each set back three blocks at the net and Countryman recorded two blocks as well. Patterson, Hayes and Whaley helped provide a spark on the service line with two aces each.
The Braves return home tomorrow at 7 p.m. when they welcome Francis Marion to town for Dig Pink night and the Battle of I-95.
Swimming Breaks Records, Takes First at King Invitational
The UNC Pembroke women’s swimming team finished off a successful weekend in the pool picking up a conference carolina victory taking 1st place in the King Invitational. Kaleigh Cupples broke a school record with her second-place finish in the 100-yard Medley finishing with a time of 1:02.82 breaking Bianca Bateman’s school record that was set during the 2018 season with a finish time of 1:07.61
The success didn’t stop there with the Braves taking titles in six title events with Benedetta Pepe Pugliese taking wins in her 400-yard medley and 200-yard Breaststroke. Sara Woodruff took first in the 100-yard Breaststroke alongside Gabby Hyson claiming the 100-yard Butterfly event. Britta Schwengle and Fatima Portillo round out the events taking titles in the 200-yard Freestyle and 200-yard Butterfly respectively.
The Braves will be back in action on November 2 when they travel to take on UNC Asheville.
Soccer Draws Francis Marion on the Road.
After a scoreless first half, Francis Marion’s Tehya Dave put the Patriots ahead in the 48th minute, but Sarah Bonifant’s first career goal in the 56th minute gave the Braves the equalizer, as the two squads battled to a 1-1 draw. This is the fifth time in the last few meetings where the Patriots and Braves have come to a draw. Also marking back-to-back seasons where both sides tied in both in season meetings.
Anna Grossheim assisted Bonifant on that goal. Mercy Bell recorded two shots with one coming on goal and Maroa Cancio recorded one shot in the match. UNCP was held to just four shots and two shots on goal, the fewest of each since the season opener on September 5 against North Georgia. UNCP held FMU to just eight shots total, with four on goal. Grossheim tallied her 39th career assist.
The Braves will travel on the road to Mount Olive on Wednesday October 16. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Braves Have Strong Showing at UAH Invite
Moureen Kimaiyo and Kevin Kibet helped lead the women’s and men’s cross-country team to a 17th team finish on the women’s side and a 16th finish on the men’s side in a very highly competitive field this past Saturday in Huntsville Alabama.
Kimaiyo took a 29th place finish in the 6K race bringing in a time of 21:48 a personal best for her as a runner while tying the second fastest time in the women’s 6K in school history. Kibet finished with a time of 25:16.2 in his running event.
The Men’s side tallied a total of 493 points and the Women with 465.
Both squads will now take a week off to prepare for the Conference Carolinas Championships, set for October 26 at Miliken Research Park in Spartanburg, S.C.