PEMBROKE, N.C. – Taja Valmyr had a big day as she recorded 27 kills, collected 24 digs and had four aces as Flagler College split its two matches on Sunday at the English E. Jones Center. Flagler lost the opener, a Peach Belt Conference match, to the University of North Carolina Pembroke 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 25-17), but salvaged the split by sweeping Elizabeth City State University (25-13, 25-8, 25-15).

Flagler is now 8-10 on the season and is 3-5 in the Peach Belt. UNC Pembroke won both of its matches today and improved to 10-12 overall and 1-7 in conference play. Elizabeth City State lost both of its matches and dropped to 5-12 overall.

In the opener against UNCP, Valmyr recorded her first double-double of the season as she recorded a match-high 13 kills and added a season-high 19 digs. Sara Davis contributed eight kills, six block assists and five digs for the Saints. Caitlyn Kovach led the defense with 20 digs while Amelia Morgan tallied 32 assists, seven digs and two block assists.
 
The Saints hit just .075 (42 kills, 30 errors, 160 swings) and struggled in the last two sets hitting .000 and .043, respectively.

The Lady Braves were led by Jada Vernon who had 12 kills and 11 digs and Nicole Mathews who finished with 12 kills and 10 digs. Caroline Pridgen chipped in with 11 kills while Sabrina Gonzalez was the third UNCP player with a double-double (42 assists and 13 digs. Josephine Yang collected a match-high 21 digs. Kristen Mills and Cecilia Brandon each recorded four total blocks.

The match featured 33 ties and 13 lead changes.

Against Elizabeth City State, it was Valmyr who led the Saints offensive attack with a season-high 14 kills and she hit .263 with only four errors on 38 swings. Valmyr added four aces and five digs. Gene Sturgeon chipped in with seven kills and 11 digs. Sturgeon hit an efficient .312 with two errors on 16 swings. Kovach tallied career-highs in kills with five and assists with 26. She hit .833 as she had six errorless swings. Ashley Lechleidner-Rodriguez collected a match-high 18 digs. Rachel Bryant recorded a career-best five service aces.  

The Saints hit its highest percentage of the season, .258, since sweeping UNC Pembroke at home on Sept. 7. Flagler had 36 kills and 11 errors on 97 swings.

Elizabeth City State, a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), was led by Rosetta Becerra who recorded eight kills and collected nine digs. Krystal Sawyer tallied 15 assists and nine digs. Kelsey Smith and Tracie Twine each collected 10 digs.

Flagler returns home for a pair of Peach Belt Conference matches this weekend, starting on Friday (Oct. 10) against Lander University at 7 p.m. at Flagler Gymnasium.