Pacers Take The Pride

Raleigh, NC-The Peace College volleyball team defeated Greensboro College 3-2 for their first-ever win against The Pride in seventeen tries.  This marked Peace's first conference win of the season and the team improved to 5-8 overall.  Greensboro dropped to 3-12 overall (2-4 USAS).

The visitors opened with a quick 25-15 victory in set one to take an early 1-0 match lead.  Set two started out in favor of the Pacers who took a 7-1 lead on five kills and an ace.  GC put out the spark, tied the set 9-9, and then went ahead 22-17.  A kill from Bree Crook (Reno, NV) led to her second and another from teammate Elizabeth Evanoff (Manns Harbor, NC) to carry Peace to within one point at 22-21.  A tough break capped the set at 25-23 in favor of Greensboro.

The momentum carried the Pacers into set three with a 5-0 opening lead.  GC tied the set at 7-7 before a seven-point service run by Megan Melchiorre (Durham, NC) gave Peace a comfortable 17-8 lead.  But the tenacious Pride battled back to tie the match on two more occasions.  Amber Lowe (Cedar Grove, NC) helped the hosts edge past Greensboro once again with two Pacer kills and an error from the opponents.  Melchiorre earned a kill with the help of Crook to cap the set 25-22.

Greensboro looked to win set four with an early eight-point service run from Rebecca Chalambous to give her team a six point lead at 12-6.  The team effort of the Pacers led to a 25-23 win to force a fifth and deciding set.
In the quick 15-point set, Peace took an early 11-7 lead.  Three GC kills and an ace put the visitors right back in the mix down by just one.  The battle continued and the Pacers sealed the win on a kill from Crook and solid Pacer defense.

The bulk of the struggling Pacer offense was spread out over six players with Lowe leading the pack with 10 kills, adding 27 digs.  Evanoff led her team with eight blocks, including three solos.  She added five kills and two service aces from the middle.  Crook recorded 30 assists and eight kills in the win.  Melchiorre earned some key digs in the latter portion of the match to finish with 20 on the day, adding seven kills.

Greensboro's Kacie Hyatt and Brittany Hunsucker led all with 13 kills.  Libero Emily Thompson recorded 34 digs in the loss.

Peace continues their home series Friday versus Elizabeth City State University.  Match time is slated for 6:00 pm.  The team hosts Mary Baldwin and Methodist Saturday in a USA South tri-match beginning at Noon in the Hermann Center.  See you on the sidelines!