Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Stephen Williams

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Putting up a strong fight, the Columbus State University volleyball team fell in four sets 3-1 (25-21, 25-17, 23-25, 25-16) at Armstrong State on Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference match was played at the Aquatics and Recreation Center in Savannah, Ga.
 
Savannah Miller led the Lady Cougars with 10 kills on the day. Megan Frame turned in nine, while Andrea Skipor added six. Cori Ehmen finished with 30 assists and seven digs on the day. Getting the start at the libero position, freshman Brittany Moore led CSU with 11 digs.
 
Going up against the team atop the conference standings, Columbus State (2-16, 0-8) controlled play through most of the first set.
 
After Armstrong State (11-4, 7-0) took the opening point, CSU forced five straight Pirate errors to take a 5-1 lead. A block from Ehmen and Kylie Beaubien followed by an ace from Frame ballooned the lead out to seven at 10-3.
 
ASU would begin chipping away, getting within three points, but the Lady Cougars answered back with three straight to stretch the lead back to six at 14-8 midway through the first game. The Pirates then found their stride, using a 10-4 run to eventually tie the set at 18.
 
A service error gave the Lady Cougars the lead back (21-20), but Armstrong State captured the final five points to take the opening set.
 
Columbus State held a quick 2-1 edge to start the second, but the Pirates surged forward with four straight points and would stay in front the rest of the way.
 
With their backs against the wall, the Lady Cougars responded in set number three. Armstrong State opened with four straight points, but CSU turned things around. Trailing 9-5, the Lady Cougars reeled off five in a row including a block assist from freshman Malaisia Stallworth, who had a big third set.
 
After falling behind again by two (15-13), the Lady Cougars found four straight points started by a block by Ehmen and Frame. Armstrong State rallied to tie the set at 18 before Stallworth took over. The freshman scored three straight points for CSU getting two solo blocks sandwiched around a kill.
 
ASU battled back to get within one, but a late Pirate error gave the Lady Cougars the set and prolonged the match.
 
The fourth set stayed tight in the early going. A kill from King pulled Columbus State within one at 7-6, but Armstrong State would run away from there. The Pirates went on a 12-4 run to create separation and eventually wrapped it up.
 
Columbus State will now return home for the next three matches, starting with its second meeting of the season with Montevallo on Tuesday night. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside the Lumpkin Center.