PEMBROKE - The University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team traveled to UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, falling to the Braves in straight sets.

The win moved UNCP to 2-0 in conference play and second in the East Division, while Mount Olive dropped to 2-2 and third place.

In the first set, both teams traded points until a 12-12 tie. The Trojans responded with a 5-0 run behind kills from Olivia Melvin and Kacey Gore, plus a block assist from Melvin and Danielle Parker, to take a 17-12 lead. The Braves rallied, tying the set before closing it out 25-23 after a service error by UNCP and a Rachel Clark ace brought UMO within one.

The Braves surged to a nine-point lead in set two, but the Trojans fought back. Breanna Tanton played a role in five of UMO's final 11 points, setting up kills for Clark, Parker, Gore, and Melvin. The comeback fell short, and UNCP claimed the set 25-22.

The third set stayed tight, with neither team leading by more than three points. Down 23-21, Head Coach Kevin Troup called timeout. Out of the break, Gores delivered a kill to cut the deficit to one. After trading points, UMO tied the set 24-24 on a UNCP error. The Braves answered with a kill and capitalized on a Trojan attacking error to seal the match 26-24.

Melvin led UMO with 11 kills, four block assists, and four digs. Clark added five block assists. Breanna Reisinger posted eight kills, while Tanton recorded 15 assists and six digs. Lyndsay Reid tallied eight assists and 15 digs, and Caroline Sheaffer contributed four aces and eight digs.

Mount Olive heads to Augusta, Ga., on Sept. 26 for the Augusta Tri-Meet, facing Middle Georgia State at 5 p.m. and Augusta at 7 p.m.