Peace Comes from Behind to Take Quakers

Raleigh, NC-The Pacers regrouped after an early 2-0 deficit to defeat the Quakers of Guilford College in five.  Peace improved to 8-10 overall and Guilford dropped to 6-9.

The Quakers controlled sets one and two with little pressure from Peace to take an early 2-0 lead on 25-15, 25-16 scoring.

PC managed a quick 5-1 lead in the third.  Guilford chipped away at that lead and tied the set at 13 on kills from Mary Moody and Courtney Kozar.  Peace maintained composure in spite of a 7-2 Quaker run to go up by four.  Senior middle and tonight's leading Pacer attacker, Elizabeth Evanoff (Manns Harbor, NC) pulled Peace back to within one at 20-19.  A GC kill and a Pacer error gave the Quakers their first set-point 24-22 and forced a Peace timeout.  The Pacers edged past Guilford 30-28.

The teams exchanged points in set four until Peace managed a 6-1 breakaway run to go up 23-18.  Guilford pulled to within two before the Pacers capped the 25-21 win on kills from Bree Crook (Reno, NV) and Leah Chandler (Chapel Hill, NC). 

The deciding set opened with Peace on top 9-5.  The Quakers jumped ahead 13-11 scoring eight of the next ten points.  Peace called timeout and returned to the court scoring two quick on kills from Amber Lowe (Cedar Grove, NC) and Evanoff to tie the set at 13.  Guilford would score twice more before Peace finished the set on three straight.

Evanoff led Peace with 15 kills, hitting .324, and added seven digs and three blocks.  Crook recorded 47 assists to help Lowe earn 12 kills and teammates Chandler and Megan Melchiorre (Durham, NC) 10 apiece.  Chandler led with 34 digs.  Libero Brandi Pinnell (Louisburg, NC) compiled 26 digs in the win.

GC's Brittany Freeman led with a match-high 16 kills and Mary Moody with 35 digs.  Setter Taylor Phillips notched 53 assists to lead all, and Laura Kopald earned 13 kills in 25 attacks (.400).

Peace travels to Winchester, Virginia this weekend for a conference tri-match with the Hornets of Shenandoah University and North Carolina Wesleyan Saturday.  The Battling Bishops remain undefeated in league play.  Peace returns home to host Salem College Thursday, October 15, for the Dig Pink game.  Wear your pink and green in observance of breast cancer awareness.  See you on the sidelines!