FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo volleyball team split a pair of Peach Belt Conference matches with UNC-Pembroke and Francis Marion Oct. 8-9.

The Falcons (8-10 overall, 3-3 in Peach Belt Conference) continued their recent roll with a 3-1 victory over visiting UNC Pembroke in a match Oct. 8.

Freshman Michelle Walker led the Falcons with 16 kills, two service aces and 14 digs. The Falcons won 25-22, 19-25, 25-17 and 25-23.

Sophomore Michelle Carle had 11 kills and a pair of blocks while junior Jordan Spinks added 10 kills and a pair of digs.

Senior setter Anna Garrison had a huge day with 47 assists, two service aces and 16 digs. Senior libero Rachel Wotitzky led the Falcons with 25 digs.

UM hit .224 as a team while holding UNCP to a .144 hitting percentage. The Falcons out-blocked the Braves 7-3 and out-dug them 79-72.

UNCP was led by Hannah Hill who had 12 kills and 15 digs. Chelsea Phillips added 10 kills.

The Falcons took the early lead against Francis Marion University, but the 2-0 lead would not stand up as the Patriots won the final three games to take a 3-2 victory.

Walker led the Flacons with 22 kills, 14 digs and four blocks. Freshman Katie Best, a Spain Park High School graduate, added 12 kills off a .393 hitting percentage. She also had three blocks.

Wotitzky led the team with 16 digs, while senior Jessica Guidry added 15. Sophomore Kaleigh Harvey had 12 digs as well.

Garrison had 57 assists and eight digs.

The Falcons won the first two sets 25-21 and 25-22. FMU came back and took game three 25-12 before holding off the Falcons in game four 25-23. The final set saw the Patriots jump out to an early lead and never look back as they won 15-8.

The Falcons as a team hit .169 while the Patriots hit .262.

Liz Drewry and Ashlee Cook led the way for FMU with 14 kills each.

Montevallo will return to action Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. as the Falcons host USC Aiken in Peach Belt Conference action. The match will also be the Dig Pink match for the Falcons as they help fight breast cancer.