AUGUSTA, Ga. –  The Converse University volleyball team fell 3-1 to Augusta on Tuesday evening inside the Christenberry Fieldhouse.

With the loss the Valkyries snap a two-match winning streak and drop to 7-5 overall on the season. Meanwhile, Augusta improves to 11-2 overall on the year and they stay perfect against Conference Carolinas programs.

Augusta opened the first set on an 8-0 run against the Valkyries, forcing Converse to use an early timeout. The Valkyries responded with a 6-0 offensive spurt to get back in the match down 8-6. The Jags had the Valkyries number in the first set as they won a pair of points for every point the Valkyries won. Augusta cruised to a 25-16 first set win over the Valkyries.

Converse came out ready to go after the set break and began the second frame on an 8-3 run against the Jags. A few moments later, Augusta made a run of their own and tied the match at 11. However, Converse held the momentum the rest of the set as they used a 9-0 run to put away the Jags in the second set. The Valkyries 12-3 run to close out the second set was one of their longest runs of the season.

The third set was a back-and-forth contest between the two squads through the first 12 points of the period. Then Augusta used a 7-0 spurt to take a 13-8 advantage over the Valkyries. Converse was not bothered by the Jags run and used a 6-1 offensive spurt of their own, tying the set at 14. Later on in the set the two teams were tied at 21, when Converse won the next point to go up 22-21.

The Valkyries lead was short lived as Augusta ended the period on a 4-0 run against the Valkyries defense.
In the fourth set, the two teams were deadlocked through the first 18 points of the set. The Valkyries throughout the set stayed within striking distance of Augusta and trailed 16-14 midway through the period. Augusta finished the match on a 9-0 run and won the fourth and final set 25-14.

Converse finished with 51 points, 37 kills, 9 aces, 5 blocks, 37 assists and 59 digs. Bree Lyons and Alysha Arroyo both recorded double-doubles in the loss to Augusta on Tuesday evening. Lyons finished with a team high 15 kills, Ariel Bryant finished second on the team with 8 kills and Alayah Robertson finished third on the team with 7 kills.

Arroyo led the team with four service aces, while Robertson had a team high four blocks. Jayden Johnson led the team with 20 assists and Arroyo finished with 14 assists. Noemia Chiacchio had a team best 15 digs and Lyons finished second on the team with 11 digs.

Next Up:
The Converse volleyball team returns home this weekend with matches against Belmont Abbey and Ferrum College.

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