FLORENCE, S.C. – The Valkyries volleyball team finished day two of the Francis Marion Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Converse was upended by Eckerd in the first match of the day before falling to UNC Pembroke in the finale.
GAME INFORMATION
Scores: Eckerd 3, Converse 0; UNC Pembroke 3, Converse 0
Records: Eckerd (7-1), UNC Pembroke (6-2), Converse (0-8)
Location: Smith University Center, Florence, S.C.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Brittany Tepedino tallied 11 kills over the two matches.
- Jasmine Finkley collected a career-high 6 kills versus UNCP.
- Lottie Hutson and Lauren Tharrington dished out 13 assists each against Pembroke.
- Sydney Allen produced her best games of the year with a total of 27 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game One vs. Eckerd (12-25, 17-25, 21-25)
First Set
Converse found themselves down 6-2 early, but a kill by Lauren Tharrington cut the deficit in half. However, Eckerd took complete control of the set, scoring 15 of the next 21 points en route to a comfortable 25-12 opening frame win.
Second Set
The Valkyries were the aggressor to start the second, racing out to an 11-8 lead, but seven straight and 13 of 16 from the Tritons catapulted Eckerd into the driver's seat, 21-14. A service error made the count 21-15 but that was as close as the Vals would be, falling 25-17.
Third Set
Eizabeth Yohe connected on a kill to give Converse a 4-3 lead, but Eckerd seized control of the set with a run of 5-1. From that point it was an uphill battle for the Valkyries, who fought back to take a 21-20 lead. Unfortunately, EC took the final five points of the set to sweep the match.
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game Two vs. UNC Pembroke (25-27, 22-25, 21-25)
First Set
Converse established a 12-8 lead in the opening set, but the Braves came back to take the lead (17-14) following a 9-3 spurt. Three straight by the Vals knotted the contest and from that point the set became back-and-forth, seeing seven ties. With the score at 25-25, UNCP took the final two points to go up 1-0 in the match.
Second Set
After the Braves built a 6-3 lead in set two, Converse came striking back following a 5-0 burst. The game was deadlocked at 11-11 before UNC Pembroke gained separation with an 8-3 run. The Valkyries battled back to even the score at 22, but UNCP collected three straight to earn a 25-22 set win and take a dominant 2-0 match lead.
Third Set
Converse fell behind 7-2 in the third, but used a 6-0 run, capped off by a Jasmine FInkley kill, to take its first lead, 8-7, forcing a timeout by the Braves. Following the brief stoppage the game became a nip-and-tuck affair as the lead was changed on eight different instances.
Trailing late in the set ( 22-20), Converse gained a point from an attack error by the Braves front. However, Pembroke took three of the final four points to complete the 3-0 match win.
UP NEXT
The Valkyries will return to the court on Tuesday, September 17, traveling to face the Cavaliers of Montreat College. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.