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By: Josh Fuller

CENTRAL, S.C. – After dropping the first two sets, the Columbus State University volleyball team made a furious rally to defeat Southern Wesleyan 3-2 (13-25, 10-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-8) Tuesday. The match took place at Tysinger Gymnasium in Central, S.C.
 
Zoemy Barreto Pereira had 11 kills for the Lady Cougars while Megan Frame had an outstanding night with 10 kills while hitting .500. The senior also had nine blocks, the second most all-time by a Lady Cougar in a match. Cayltin Merritt had a team best 17 digs while also serving up four aces.
 
"This was a great team win tonight," said head coach Casey Cornett. "The girls could have easily given in, but they dug deep and found a way to pull out this victory. I couldn't be more proud of this team."
 
Things didn't start out well at all for Columbus State (11-8) as the Lady Cougars dropped the first two sets. Southern Wesleyan raced out to an early 9-3 in set one. CSU did have a short rally in it winning six of the next seven points to make it a 10-9 game. However, the Warriors answered the run and quickly extended the lead back to 21-11. SWU capped off the set 25-13.
 
CSU battled in the early portion of the second set before Southern Wesleyan strung together another long run. The Warriors won 15 of the next 17 points to quickly put an end to the set.
 
In a must-win third set, things were tight as the sides exchanged points until CSU won three straight points to jump out to an 8-5 lead. Frame had a kill to help put the Lady Cougars in the lead. Holding a 12-10 lead, a Malaisia Stallworth kill started a 5-1 CSU run that gave the Lady Cougars a comfortable 17-11 lead.
 
CSU stretched the lead to 20-13 until a mini rally from SWU made it 20-16. However, the Lady Cougars took the set 25-20 thanks to kills from Mary McCarty and Barreto Pereira. Merritt sealed the set win with an ace.
 
Columbus State never trailed in set four after taking the opening point. The Lady Cougars quickly doubled up the Warriors at 10-5 thanks to great starts to the set from Barreto Pereira and Frame.
 
Southern Wesleyan didn't go down quietly, however, inching back into the match at 13-10. CSU answered with a 6-1 run to put itself into position to force a decisive set five.
 
The Warriors battled back into the set with a long run of their own, but the Lady Cougars calmly won the final three points of the set to take the stanza 25-20. Andrea Skipor slammed down the final kill to force the fifth set.
 
Columbus State didn't waste any time taking control of set five. With Southern Wesleyan up 3-2, the Lady Cougars won the next seven points to take a commanding 9-3 lead. Four different CSU players had kills in the run, including two from Skipor. Merritt served in an ace as well in the spurt.
 
SWU broke the 7-0 run with a point, but CSU put the match away by winning five of the next six points. Frame had the match clinching kill for the Lady Cougars.
 
Columbus State will be back in action on Friday, October 21 hosting UNC Pembroke inside the Lumpkin Center. First serve is set for 7 p.m.