By Devin McCullough
The UNC Pembroke volleyball team came out firing on all cylinders but couldn’t hold off a late surge from Converse, falling 3-2 (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 18-25, 18-20) in a heartbreaker Friday evening at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
The Braves looked dominant early, taking the first two sets behind a balanced offensive effort and strong defensive play at the net. Despite the fast start, UNC Pembroke couldn’t close the door as Converse rallied to take the final three sets in a tightly contested match that came down to the wire.
Junior standout Abby Peduzzi delivered a stellar performance, leading all players with 25 kills and adding 21 digs and four blocks. She set the tone early, helping the Braves grab momentum in the opening sets and providing clutch plays throughout the night.
UNC Pembroke’s defense was also strong, recording 11 total blocks and six service aces. Brette Doile paced the back row with 31 digs and four aces, while Tyler Patterson dished out 37 assists to keep the offense rolling.
After dropping the third and fourth sets, the Braves battled deep into the decisive fifth, taking an early lead and trading points down the stretch. Despite multiple key kills from Peduzzi and Savannah Whaley, UNCP came up just short in an 18-20 final frame.
The Braves will look to bounce back quickly when they return to action Saturday, hosting Erskine at 2 p.m. at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Admission is free. The loss drops UNC Pembroke to 12-13 overall and 9-6 in Conference Carolinas play.