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By: Stephen Williams

MELBOURNE, Fla. – On the opening day of the Panther Invitational, the Columbus State University volleyball team dropped matches against Lynn (25-21, 25-22, 25-17) and Florida Tech (25-20, 25-17, 25-8). The tournament was played at the Clemente Center in Melbourne, Fla.
 
"I was pleased with the intensity and effort we showed today," said head coach Casey Cornett. "We still have a lot of things we need to work on, but this team is getting better with each match."
 
Game One
 
The Lady Cougars (0-6) got off to a fast start in the opening match of the day, leading for most of the first set. Junior setter Cori Ehmen propelled CSU early catching the Lynn (3-1) defense napping for a pair of kills.
 
Columbus State went ahead 2-1 for its first lead and stretched the margin to as much as five on multiple occasions, including late in the set at 18-13. However, Lynn regrouped and went on a 10-1 run to surge in front 23-19. The Lady Cougars clawed back to within three, but the Fighting Knights finished off the first set with a 25-21 win.
 
The second set started in opposite fashion, as Lynn took control early. The Lady Cougars put themselves in a six-point hole and weren't able to fully get out of it. CSU mounted a late rally and brought the deficit down to just two (19-17) on a kill by freshman Payten Joy, but it would get no closer with Lynn taking the set 25-22.
 
In the third, it was Lynn again that jumped out to the early lead. Columbus State put together a mid-set charge though, going on a 7-2 run to trail 15-14. As it did most of the match, Lynn had another answer closing the match on a 10-3 run to wrap up the sweep.
 
Freshman Malaisia Stallworth turned in her best performance in a Lady Cougar uniform, leading CSU with a career high 11 kills while hitting .643 for the match. Megan Frame had eight kills, while Payten Joy finished with six. Cori Ehmen tallied a career high 29 assists for the Lady Cougars.
 
Game Two
 
Taking on the host school, Columbus State once again found itself in a first set battle. Florida Tech (4-1) raced out of the gates and took an early 8-2 lead. The lead reached as much as seven (12-5) before the Lady Cougars started to claw their way back.
 
Ehmen served an ace for CSU, starting a quick 4-2 Lady Cougar run that brought them within three at 19-16. FIT rallied back and stretched the margin back to six at 23-17. CSU used a pair of Panther errors to pull it to 23-20, but Florida Tech took the final two points to win the first set.
 
Columbus State started the second set quickly, tallying four of the set's first five points. Ehmen turned in another ace and a kill to spark the run. The Panthers scored three straight points to tie the set and the two sides then went back and forth.
 
With the set tied again at 15 apiece, FIT strung together five straight points to pull away and raced to the 25-17 second set win.
 
The third set belonged to Florida Tech as the Panthers closed the match strong. Five straight FIT points helped break a five-all tie and it was all Panthers the rest of the way.
 
Four different Lady Cougars finished the match with three kills, as CSU totaled just 15 for the match. Caytlin Merritt led the defensive effort with 13 digs on the evening.
 
Columbus State will play two more matches on Saturday, taking on Albany State at 9:00 a.m. followed by a 1:00 p.m. contest against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.