BRISTOL, Tenn. –
Hailee Blankenship recorded her eighth double-double of the season Friday night, but it wasn't enough for the King University women's volleyball team, as they fell to UNC Pembroke 3-1 inside the Student Center.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: UNC Pembroke 3, King 1
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 9-10, 4-4 Conference Carolinas; UNC Pembroke 11-10, 8-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- After the Tornado took an early 2-1 lead, the Braves responded by scoring five unanswered points to pull ahead 6-2.
- King got back to within 10-5, but UNC Pembroke scored another five consecutive points to extend the lead to 15-6.
- Blankenship would record a kill then pick up a pair of service aces to make the score 15-8.
- The Braves scored 10 of the final 13 points in the set to win 25-11.
Second Set
- Coming out of the set break, UNC Pembroke picked up where they left off, scoring the first three points to take an early lead.
- The Braves were up 5-1 when Blankenship picked up a kill, which was followed by Abigail Belcher getting a service ace to cut the lead to 5-3.
- King eventually got to 7-6, but UNC Pembroke would score four of the next five points to go ahead 11-7.
- After the Tornado tied the set at 13, the Braves would go ahead 16-13 before Zephanie Snyder and Blankenship went back-to-back on kills to get back to within 16-15.
- UNC Pembroke would eventually take a 21-17 lead, later scoring three unanswered points to go ahead 24-19.
- After Snyder picked up a pair of, the Braves would take the set 25-21.
Third Set
- King took an early 3-2 lead but fell victim to UNCP scoring five consecutive points to take a 7-3 lead.
- The Braves would stretch the lead to 11-6 before King scored three straight points to get to within two points.
- After UNCP took a 19-13 lead, the Tornado would score back-to-back points to get to 19-15.
- The Tornado would then score seven of the next nine points to take a 22-21 lead.
- UNC Pembroke would tie the score at 22, but a pair of attack errors gave King set point, which they won on a kill from Gracia Love to take a 25-22 set win.
Fourth Set
- After the Braves took an early 5-2 lead, the Tornado would battle back and eventually take an 8-7 lead after a block from Riley Nelson and Katie Harless.
- UNCP would then score five straight points to take a 12-8 lead.
- King cut the lead to 13-12 after scoring four of the next five points, but eventually would fall behind 19-14.
- After getting to within 22-18, the Braves would pull away, scoring three of the final five points to win the set 25-19, and the match 3-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Nelson finished the night with a career-high four blocks, along with one kill.
- The double-double for Blankenship was her eighth of the season. She finished with 15 kills and 10 digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Four different Braves had double digit kills, led by 19 from Vanja Przulj. Brianna Warren added 15, while Shannon Skryd had 12 and Erin O'Donnell had 11.
- Katie Pressley finished with 29 assists, while Morgan Gibbs contributed 22.
Up Next
- King is back inside the Student Center Saturday afternoon, hosting Francis Marion. Prior to the 2 p.m. first serve, the Tornado will honor their senior class.
- UNC Pembroke will also be in action Saturday, taking on Lees-McRae.
