CHARLESTON, WV --The Fayetteville State volleyball team fell to UNC-Pembroke Braves 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 11-25, 25-21, 9-15) Friday at Wehrle Innovation Center.
The non-conference loss dropped Fayetteville State to 2-3 on the season.
The Broncos were led by a double-double from Casandra Watson, who registered 16 kills and 18 digs on the day. Sydney Kendal-Eason also added 10 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Nikole Akamine chipped in with 18 digs to go with four blocks from A'Lexus Everett.
Game Notes
» Fayetteville State had three players in double figures in digs.
» Jaida Bynum had a team-high two aces in the loss.
» Casandra Watson registered a double-double with 16 kills and 18 digs
» Casandra Watson had a team-high 16 kills for Fayetteville State.
» Fayetteville State got a team-high 18 digs from Nikole Akamine.
» Fayetteville State attackers were helped by a team-high 27 assists from Jaida Bynum.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Broncos found themselves in an early hole, dropping a close first set 25-23. North Carolina-Pembroke grabbed the advantage for good at 23-22 in a set that was tied up four times before the Braves took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 2 | Fayetteville State rallied after dropping the first set to take set two 25-22, evening the match at 1-1. The Broncos persevered in a back-and-forth set to win in a stanza that featured seven lead changes and was tied 16 times. Neither team led by more than three points along the way. The Broncos racked up 18 kills over the course of the set.
SET 3 | North Carolina-Pembroke grabbed a 2-1 match lead after defeating the Broncos in set three. The Broncos dropped a tough set 25-11. Fayetteville State trailed by as many as 14 points as North Carolina-Pembroke grabbed the advantage for good at 3-2 in a set that was knotted up two times before the Braves took over the lead.
SET 4 | Fayetteville State then responded to win the fourth set 25-21 to force a fifth set. The Broncos took the lead for good at 8-7 in a set that showcased two lead changes before the Broncos took over the lead.
SET 5 | Fayetteville State was on the wrong side of a back-and-forth match, winning the second and fourth sets, but dropping the first, third and fifth, which they dropped by the score of 15-9, to fall in the match. The Broncos dropped the first point and never took the lead.
