By Zack Ciboth
The UNC Pembroke women’s volleyball team picked up a key Conference Carolinas win over the visiting Chowan Hawks Tuesday night at home on MVP night. The Braves came out of the gate firing on all cylinders and never let up to pick up a win in three straight sets 3-0 (25-3, 25-7, 25-19)
“We were clicking on all cylinders, and I told them after the game it was how we started practice yesterday. We had a good practice yesterday. I think that carried over into tonight’s game and we were just ready to play,” Volleyball coach Jaleesa Harper said.
The Braves (13-17, 10-7 CC) started off the game going on a 12-1 run stunning Chowan immediately out of the game. The scoring runs didn’t stop there as the Braves continued to pour into their lead with nine unanswered points to quickly jump out to a 21-2 lead before the Hawks (4-21, 2-16 CC) gained their third point of the match. UNCP closed things out for the 1-0 lead.
Some early back and forth action took place in the second set until the Braves gained the upper hand with a 9-3 lead. From there the Braves fired off seven straight points to extend their lead to 16-4. Despite the Hawks scoring three straight points following that UNCP ended the set with a 9-0 run to take the 2-0 lead.
Looking the pull off the reverse sweep and force a fourth set to keep the match alive the Hawks remained neck and neck with the Braves early in the set with UNCP leading 10-7 before the Braves took six of the 10 points scored halfway through the set and had a 16-11 lead. The Braves held off a late rally and closed things out for the win.
Ruby Countryman led the Braves offensive attack with nine kills, McKenna Hayes and Savannah Whaley followed with seven kills each. Tyler Patterson was on fire for the Braves picking up a stat in almost every box including leading the way with 24 assists. Brette Dolie followed with two and Presious Daley recorded one assist.
“I think Tyler’s (Patterson) setting decisions were really good and the passing was great all around and that helped out a lot,” Countryman said. ‘Our serving was really aggressive, and I think that showed with the results of the game and that everyone had a dominant match.”
Whaley helped anchor down the Braves defense with 12 Digs, Abby Peduzzi and Karagyn Durco followed with 10 each. Patterson led the defensive attack at the net coming away with four blocks, Hayes had three and Countryman with two. Hayes led the service attack with five aces, with Whaley and Doile recording three access. The Braves as a team recorded 13 service aces at the line.
The Braves will have a quick turnaround when they travel to face Converse at 7 p.m. to close out the regular season.