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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – Coming off a long five-set match on Friday, the Columbus State University volleyball team fell in straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-23) on Saturday against UNC Pembroke. The Peach Belt Conference match was played inside the Lumpkin Center.
 
Megan Frame once again led the Columbus State (2-19, 0-11) offensive attack with eight kills. Payten Joy, Andrea Skipor and Malaisia Stallworth each finished with five. Caytlin Merritt paced the defense with 13 digs.
 
"I'm definitely disappointed in our performance today," said head coach Casey Cornett. "We played really well last night and I was hoping that we would build off that today.
 
"We came out flat today though and made a lot of mistakes that we will have to address this week."
 
Columbus State started quickly, winning four of the game's first five points. UNC Pembroke (5-17, 2-8) turned it around though, getting the next six points to take its first lead of the day.
 
The Braves began extending their lead, reaching as much as nine, before the Lady Cougars fought back. Down 21-12, CSU reeled off a 6-1 run keyed by a pair of blocks from Skipor and Stallworth.
 
Four points was as close as Columbus State would get though, as the Braves captured the opening set.
 
The second set went UNC Pembroke's way early with the Braves taking the first four points. After three straight from the Lady Cougars, UNCP went on a 9-1 run to blow the game open.
 
Columbus State got as close as six, but the Braves easily took a 2-0 advantage into the locker room.
 
Back-to-back aces from Frame got CSU off to a strong start in the third game, opening up a 7-3 Lady Cougar advantage. The lead grew out to six at 11-5 after Joy hammered home a kill. UNC Pembroke then answered with an extended 13-4 run to open up a three-point lead.
 
The Lady Cougars responded to tie the set at 20, with the two sides exchanging the next six points leaving the set tied at 23. Trying to keep the match going, CSU gave up a kill and an ace to wrap it up.
 
Columbus State will have a week between matches, as the Lady Cougars get ready for their final non-conference contests of the season. CSU's next games will be next Saturday against Queens and Carson-Newman in a tri-match in Jefferson City, Tenn.