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By: Josh Fuller

COLUMBUS – The Columbus State University volleyball team handled business Friday sweeping UNC Pembroke 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-22) in a Peach Belt Conference match. All the action took place inside the Lumpkin Center.
 
Megan Frame had another great match for CSU tying a season-high in kills with 14 while hitting .379. The senior added seven digs and an ace. Mary McCarty was the only other CSU player with double digit kills with 10, while Andrea Skipor and Zoemy Barreto Pereira each had eight. Abby King had a match had 40 assists.
 
As a team, CSU hit .301, its best mark in a PBC match this season.
 
"The girls came out and played a very clean match tonight," said head coach Casey Cornett. "We have a few things to work on, but it was great picking up back-to-back wins and we are looking forward to having a great match with Francis Marion tomorrow."
 
Columbus State (12-8, 3-7 PBC) took control of set one early racing out to a 4-1 lead thanks to kills from three different Lady Cougars. After UNCP tied the match, CSU won four straight points to double up the Braves 8-4.
 
From there, the Lady Cougars held a comfortable lead for the rest of the set. With a 17-13 lead, CSU added on with back-to-back kills from Skipor and Barreto Pereira to pad the lead.  CSU eventually won four out of the final five points to take the set 25-19. Frame had a kill and an ace to cap off the set.
 
In set two, the two sides exchanged points until the Lady Cougars strung together eight straight to take a 13-5 advantage. Cayltin Merritt fueled the run with her serve while Frame and Barreto Pereira each had a pair of kills.
 
The lead eventually got as high as 21-13 before UNC Pembroke (2-22, 0-11) made a short rally. However, Frame ended the set with a monstrous kill to give CSU the 25-19 set win.
 
The third set was tight throughout as UNCP tried to extend the match. The score was deadlocked at seven until CSU won three straight points to go ahead 10-7. Barreto Pereira and Sabrina Rodgers had kills to help give the Lady Cougars the lead.
 
The three-point lead would stand until Columbus State won three consecutive points again to stretch the advantage out to 18-13. However, UNC Pembroke made one last rally. Down 19-14, the Braves won five straight points to tie the match at 19.
 
Columbus State quickly put the comeback to bed, winning the next four points before taking the set 25-22.
 
The Lady Cougars will be back in action Saturday at 2 p.m. hosting Francis Marion inside the Lumpkin Center.