SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University volleyball team lost 3-1 (20-25, 11-25, 26-24, 17-25) to UNC Pembroke on Sunday afternoon inside the Weisiger Center.
 
Converse (6-10, 3-5 CC) and UNC Pembroke (10-10, 7-1 CC) were originally slated to play on Saturday afternoon but moved the game back a day due to inclement weather from the hurricane this past weekend. With the loss the Valkyries have dropped three in a row for the second time this season, while UNC Pembroke remains atop the standings in the East Division.
 
It was a tight opening set between the Valkyries and the Braves, as Converse took an early 8-5 lead from an Evelyn Fitz kill. The lead did not last long, however, as UNC Pembroke reeled off 10-2 run to take the lead back at 16-11. The Valkyries began to chip away at the Braves lead, following a pair of kills by Fitz and a Jasmine Hamilton service ace the Valkyries were back within a point at 18-17. A few moments later, the Braves used a pair of short scoring spurts to take the opening set 25-20.
 
In the second set, UNC Pembroke came out of the gates on fire as they quickly amassed a 14-5 lead over the Valkyries. Converse was unable to stop the Braves onslaught as UNC Pembroke cruised to a 25-11 second set win.
 
Trailing by a pair of sets the Valkyries looked to extend the match in the third set. Converse raced out to a 7-2 lead in the opening moments of the set and put pressure on UNC Pembroke to respond. Slowly the Braves chipped away at the Converse lead, following a 7-2 run the set was tied at 14-14. Trailing 18-16, it appeared that the Valkyries might concede in the third stanza, but a late 4-0 run gave the Valkyries life and the lead at 20-18. The two squads went back-and-forth late in the period before Anna Rabon helped give the Valkyries the set on a late kill.
 
In the fourth set it was once again the Braves who took the early momentum in the period. UNC Pembroke opened up the fourth stanza on a 7-1 run and eventually held an 18-12 advantage over the Valkyries. Converse ran out of time on their comeback bid, as the Braves took the fourth set 25-17.
 
Fitz led the team with 12 kills in the match, Rabon finished second on the team with seven kills and Mackenzie Schmucker registered four kills in the loss. Jasmine Finkley led the team with four blocks in the match, while Savannah Ducote and Schmucker each had 12 assists in the match. Mackenzie Day recorded a season best 31 digs in the loss to UNC Pembroke.
 
Converse will hit the road this week with matches at North Greenville, Barton and Chowan. For more information on the Converse volleyball team, log onto govalkyries.com today.
 
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