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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – In its most dramatic home match of the season, the Columbus State University volleyball team fell in five sets 3-2 (25-11, 21-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13) against Francis Marion on Friday night. The Peach Belt Conference match was played inside the Lumpkin Center.
 
Megan Frame had a career-high 21 kills on the night to lead the way for the Lady Cougars. Cori Ehmen turned in a double-double performance with 41 assists and 13 digs, and came up just three kills short of double figures. Caytlin Merritt finished with 28 digs, while Payten Joy added 12.
 
The Lady Cougars finished the match with season-highs in kills (51), digs (82) and points (62).
 
"This is a heartbreaker for us because we were so close," said head coach Casey Cornett. "We did so many things well tonight, but we gave away a couple of sets and it cost us.
 
"Megan Frame had a great night on the outside and we beat Francis Marion in most categories. We just have to keep working on getting more consistent."
 
After a rough first set, Columbus State (2-18, 0-10) turned up its level of play. The Lady Cougars scored four straight points to take a 9-7 lead and force a FMU timeout. The Patriots rallied and tied the match at 10, but the Lady Cougars responded with four more in a row getting kills from Frame, Ehmen and Malaisia Stallworth.
 
Francis Marion (12-8, 5-4) got back within one (19-18) late in the set, however the Lady Cougars were able to fend off the comeback effort and even the match at one apiece.
 
Coming out of the locker room, Columbus State put together arguably its best set of the season. Frame picked up four kills in the first eight points of the third game to lead CSU to a 6-2 advantage. The kills kept coming from the Lady Cougars with a pair from both Savannah Miller and Kylie Beaubien midway through the set.
 
FMU held serve though, taking a 15-14 lead. The Lady Cougars then took the set over, scoring eight straight points to take a 22-15 lead and put the third set away. Ehmen wrapped up the game with a quick attack to the corner bringing CSU within one set of the victory.
 
Columbus State ran out to an 8-3 lead in the fourth trying to wrap up the match, but Francis Marion turned in six straight points to edge in front. The Lady Cougars would tie the set up twice, however the Patriots controlled most of the play and forced the decisive fifth set.
 
It was a slow start to the fifth for the Lady Cougars, as they fell behind 7-2. The attack would get going though with Frame, Miller and Stallworth each getting kills to get CSU back within one at 7-6.
 
FMU would take the next two points, but CSU answered with four of the next five to tie the final set at 10-all.
 
Columbus State's first lead would come at 12-11 after Ehmen added another kill. Francis Marion responded with two straight to take the lead back and force a Lady Cougar timeout. Frame would then tie the match with her final kill of the night, but the Patriots took the next two points to earn the victory.
 
Columbus State will be back in action on Saturday as it takes on UNC Pembroke. First serve from the Lumpkin Center is scheduled for 2 p.m.