Sept. 25, 2008
Final Stats
Fayetteville, NC - The Lady Broncos volleyball team rallied back from a two-set deficit to defeat UNC-Pembroke 3-2 (20-25, 19-25, 25-19, 26-24, 15-12) Wednesday evening from the Felton J. Capel Arena. The win snaps a four-match losing streak and improves Fayetteville State to 11-11 overall, and the team remains 7-1 in the CIAA.
When the Lady Braves hosted FSU earlier this season at the English E. Jones Center, UNCP delivered a decisive 3-0 loss. Head Coach Elorine Hill was looking to extract some revenge on her home floor in this match-up. Pembroke jumped out to an early advantage in the match. Middle hitter Jessica Hartley totaled six kills in game one recording a .600 hitting percentage in leading the Lady Braves to a 25-20 victory. Outside hitter Allie Schneider was UNCP's main offensive threat in the second set tallying six kills for Pembroke.
At the start of the third set, UNCP Head Coach Jeff Billingston switched up his line-up to showcase his team's depth. The reserves looked outmatched by warmed up Lady Bronco starters; FSU took the third set 25-19. Junior middle blocker Chekimbrell Jefferson was a major contributor on both sides of the net. Jefferson had a match-high 16 kills and one of five Lady Broncos with a double-digit dig total (11).
In the fourth set, the starters returned to the line-up for Pembroke. It was a seesaw set with Fayetteville State leading early and UNCP gaining momentum towards the end. After a service error by Lady Braves' setter Kayla Marbert, Coach Billingston called a timeout leading 24-23. Pembroke committed three consecutive errors and dropped the set 26-24.
FSU was victorious over Bowie State University in a fifth set in this year's CIAA Round-up, but recently fell to Franklin Pierce University in the fifth. With the newly implement NCAA ruling, the fifth set is played first to 15 points. The Lady Braves committed seven errors in the fifth set, including the final two points.
The match came to a close on a block by senior outside hitter Heather Chance and sophomore setter Achari Mainor. Chance had a team-high .333 hitting percentage, nine kills, and eight digs. Mainor finished with a match-high 40 assists, 14 digs, and four block assists.
Junior right-side hitter Cailee Huffman pitched in 11 kills and a game-high 20 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Samantha Meeks had 12 kills and digs in the Lady Broncos' victory.
FSU will travel to Columbia, SC to face Benedict College on Tuesday, September 30th. The match is set to begin at 6:00 pm.
