DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 7, 2024) - Georgian Court Volleyball fell in straight sets Saturday afternoon, but two of the three were decided by just two points in a closer match than the score may indicate. The Lions lost to UNC-Pembroke 26-28, 18-25, 23-25 and fall to 0-3 to start the season.

How it Happened
• UNC-Pembroke hit .223 for the match while the Lions were under .200 at .123.
• The Braves landed 41 kills with seven service aces and nine blocks. The Lions scored 34 kills, six aces and five blocks.
• Service errors were a problem for both teams with the Braves committing 11 and the Lions 10.
• UNCP picked up 57 digs and the Lions 53.
Set 1
• The Braves scored the first three points in the set, but the Lions quickly came back and tied the set at four.
• A Nylene Mateo service aces gave GCU their first lead, 7-6.
• UNCP used a 3-0 stretch to reclaim a 10-9 lead of their own.
• The teams volleyed the lead back and forth and tied at 18, the Lions scored three straight with a Chelsea Ross kill and two UNCP errors.
• Mateo got the Lions to set point, 24-23 with a kill, but the Lions were unable to secure the win. 
• Tied at 26, a GCU attack error and Brave service ace ended the set, 28-26.
Set 2
• Georgian Court took an early 4-2 lead getting back-to-back aces from Carmen Rivera.
• That lead didn't last long though with the Braves scoring nine straight points and taking a 12-5 lead of their own.
• GCU got the lead down to four, 22-18, but that was as close as they came with the Braves scoring the final three points for a 25-18 set two win.
Set 3
• The third set was another back-and-forth affair with neither team gaining more than a three-point edge at any time.
• GCU led 16-15 following a Ross kill, but UNCP scored four straight to go back on top, 19-16.
• The Lions answered with three straight of their own helped out by two Brave miscues and a Giorgia Cappelletti ace, tying things at 19.
• Still tied at 23, the Braves picked up the win off a GCU service error and attack error.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Nylene Mateo led the Lions with eight kills while also picking up nine digs.
• Chelsea Ross had seven kills and three blocks.
• Martina Croce chipped in seven kills as well.
• Giorgia Cappelletti added six kills and 12 digs.
• Carmen Rivera scooped 12 digs with two service aces.
• Dayna Diaz led the Lions with 16 assists.

For the Braves
• GCU had no answer for Abby Peduzzi. She landed 19 kills against just three errors hitting .333 with eight digs.
• Mckenna Hayes scored eight kills with 13 digs.
• Karagyn Durco dished out 17 assists.
• Katelynn Swain had six blocks and Precious Daley five. 

News and Notes
• Nylene Mateo moves into the GCU all-time top-five to kills.
• Chelsea Ross moves to ninth all-time in Lions history in blocks.
•  This is the first time since 2017 the Lions have lost their first three games of the season. That year they started 0-11. 

Up Next
• GCU will play their home opener Tuesday, Sept. 10 when they take on Kutztown at 6 p.m.