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Vikings Steal One from the Pacers
Raleigh, NC-The Pacer volleyball squad lost a close 3-1 battle to the Vikings of Elizabeth City State University in tonight's non-league match at the Hermann Student Center. Peace dropped to 5-9 overall and the Division II Vikings improved to 12-8.
Peace opened the first set with a 12-3 lead and forced a timeout from Elizabeth City after two kills from match leader Megan Melchiorre (Durham, NC) and two Viking errors. The visitor's turned the tide on a four-point service run by Jasmin Knox and a later one from teammate Regan Simpson to take a two point lead at 19-17. Peace would never regain control of the set and lost 25-22.
Set two was all Peace. The team took a quick 19-7 lead and kept the Vikings at bay to seal a 25-17 victory and tie the match 1-1.
In set three the Pacers opened strong once again securing an early 10-5 lead and maintained the offensive advantage until 21-15. The visitor's scored the next seven points on five kills and two Pacer attack errors. Peace recorded three final errors to lose 25-21.
Set four was a battle. The teams were tied on 14 occasions and for the final time at 20-20. That point was the first of Eva Johnson's five-point service run that gave Elizabeth City a 24-20 lead and control of the match. The Pacers continued to fight and scored two more points before the Vikings sealed the match win at 25-22.
Melchiorre led all with 19 kills hitting .350 from the outside, adding 16 digs. Amber Lowe (cedar Grove, NC) struggled on offense with seven kills but led Peace with 23 digs. First-year setter Bree Crook (Reno, NV) led all with 39 assists in the loss. First-year Alexandra Parker added nine kills and three blocks from the right side.
Elizabeth City's Johnson and Lia Scott led the Vikings with 15 kills apiece and a combined 27 digs. Libero Cassie Noe led the match with 32 digs.
Peace completes this three-date home series tomorrow with a USA South tri-match hosting Mary Baldwin and Methodist beginning at Noon. See you on the sidelines!
