FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo volleyball team dropped a pair of Peach Belt Conference matches Sept. 23-24.

The Falcons gave undefeated Armstrong Atlantic State University a stiff challenge in a Sept. 23 match before falling 3-1. Montevallo was swept by Flagler College in a Sept. 24 match.

Montevallo (5-8 overall, 1-2 in Peach Belt Conference) played one of its toughest matches of the season as the Falcons battled unbeaten Armstrong Atlantic State.

The Falcons led late in almost every set but were unable to close out the Pirates.

Montevallo was led by sophomores Michelle Carle and Manyi Ati, who had 16 and 15 kills, respectively.

Carle had a .371 attack percentage, two block assists and three digs. Ati added three digs and a block assist. Junior Jordan Spinks added nine kills, three digs and two blocks.

Senior Anna Garrison had a huge double-double with 52 assists and 19 digs. Senior libero Rachel Wotitzky made a number of diving saves as she led the team with 21 digs.

Senior Jessica Guidry added 13 digs, while freshman Brianna Guzinski had 10.

The Falcons fell 25-17 in the first set but returned the favor in the second set winning 25-17. The third set went into extra points as the Falcons fell 28-26. The fourth set was another back-and-forth contest with UM falling 25-23.

The Falcons out-hit the Pirates .238 to .228 and out-dug the Pirates 82-62.

Montevallo fell to visiting Flagler College 3-0 in just 58 minutes Sept. 24.

The Falcons struggled to get going from the onset as the Saints swept Montevallo 25-9, 25-15 and 25-15.

Freshman Katie Best, a Spain Park High School graduate, led the Falcons with five kills, while Guzinski and Carle chipped in four each.

Garrison had 15 assists and nine digs which were both team highs. Wotitzky added seven digs.

Crystal Niederriter led the Saints with 12 kills while Abby Meyers and Emilee Taylor each had 10.

Montevallo hit just .071 through the three games while Flagler had a .392 attack percentage.

The Falcons will return to action Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. as they travel to the University of West Florida.