ROME, Ga.- The Shorter Hawks Volleyball team went the distance Saturday afternoon, but fell short in a hard-fought, five-set thriller with UNC Pembroke inside the Winthrop-King Centre. 

The opening set set the tone for Saturday's match. After the Braves scored five unanswered, the Hawks rallied back to take the lead at the halfway mark. The Hawks took the first set after going on a 9-4 run to close it out. The Braves jumped out to a massive 10-1 lead early to gain some momentum. Shorter battled back to within one, but drop the set after giving up a 6-1 run to Pembroke. 

Both sides traded points in the third set as neither team managed to pull ahead. The Hawks pushed their lead out ahead, scoring three straight to make it 15-12. Shorter held on to the lead and took the third set to jump ahead 2-1. The fourth set was another close one as both teams were deadlocked at 14. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Braves went on a commanding 11-4 run to force a fifth set. 

It was all Braves in the final set, as they jumped out in front 9-2. Shorter made one last push, but it wouldn't be enough as UNC Pembroke's lead proved to be too much as they took the fifth set. 

Victoria Sparks led the Hawks with 13 kills, while Audrey Brooks recorded 11, and Ava Medina added 10. Brooke Thao and Helena Kelley combined for 45 of the Hawks' 53 assists. Defensively, five Hawks recorded double-digit digs, with Cailtyn Sutton recording 14. Victoria Sparks finished with 13 as Claudia Loyola and Helena Kelly added 12 a piece. Brooke Thao rounded out Shorter defensively with 10 digs. 

The loss drops Shorter to 14-9 overall while falling to 11-4 in conference. 

UP NEXT

Shorter will hit the road this Wednesday as they travel to face Emmanuel at 5:00 PM. 

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