SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University volleyball team clinched the fifth seed in the Conference Carolinas Volleyball Championship on Wednesday night inside the Weisiger Center, but fell 3-1 to UNC Pembroke in the process.
For the first time in program history the Valkyries will be hosting the opening rounds of the Conference Carolinas Championships inside the Weisiger Center. Converse finishes the regular season with 19-9 record and a 13-5 mark in Conference Carolinas action. As the fifth seed, the Valkyries will be hosting #8 King and #11 Barton on Saturday morning. UNC Pembroke improved to 14-17 overall and 11-7 in Conference Carolinas play.
UNC Pembroke opened up the match on a 7-3 run and eventually extended their first set lead to 10-5 over the Valkyries. Trailing 18-11, the Valkyries began to make a move and used a 6-1 run to pull within a pair of points of the Braves. Converse continued to fight back into the set and eventually trailed 23-22, before Pembroke was able to put the set away at 25-23.
In the second set, Converse raced out to a 7-3 lead over the Braves. The Braves responded and eventually tied the match at nine. The set was close the rest of the way and remained tied at 22 late in the period. Converse won the last three points of the set to the match at one set each.
In the third set the two squads were deadlocked through the first 30-points of the set. UNC Pembroke made the first move and edged out the Valkyries 19-16, a quick counter kept the Valkyries in the set for a little bit before the Braves made yet another counter attack. The Braves ended the period on a 6-1 run and led two sets to one over the Valkyries.
In the fourth set, UNC Pembroke raced out to a 5-1 lead over the Valkyries, and eventually the Braves held an 11-6 edge midway through the set. A 5-0 spurt by the Valkyries had Converse right back in the match up 12-11 over UNC Pembroke. Another 5-0 spurt by the Valkyries offense had Converse holding a 17-12 lead late in the fourth period. Converse was unable to put the match away as UNC Pembroke rallied with a 6-0 run to tie the set at 22. The Braves won the final three points of the set to take the match.
Converse finished with 63 points, 52 kills, 3 aces, 8 blocks, 49 assists, and 82 digs.
Ariel Bryant led the team with 14 kills and finished second on the team with 17 digs.
Noemia Chiacchio finished second on the team with 11 kills and
Megan Carpenter finished third on the team with 9 kills.
Alayah Robertson led the way defensively with five blocks on the night.
Alysha Arroyo posted a double-double with 21 assists and 14 digs.
Mackenzie Day finished the night with a team best 25 digs on the evening.
Next Up:
The Converse volleyball team will host the opening rounds of the Conference Carolinas Volleyball Championships on Saturday morning and afternoon. The first round will be between #8 King vs #11 Barton at 11:00 a.m. The winner of that matchup will face #5 Converse at 2:00 p.m.
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