ROCK HILL, S.C.- A difficult seven-match stretch came full circle for Presbyterian College volleyball, as the Blue Hose fell 19-30, 25-30 and 26-30 to Winthrop University. The loss extends a seven-match streak for the Blue Hose that began on October 5^th in a home match against Winthrop.

Senior Lauren Mason inched closer to 11^th on the all-time PC kills list with 11 kills and nine digs against the Eagles. The front row of Kelsey McKee and Heather Swain each added five kills, while Elizabeth Heineman shared dig honors with Mason at nine. A solid service game provided PC with hope, as Amanda Davis and Mason each shined with two aces. The biggest difference in the meetings between the two came in blocks for PC, as Amanda Kettles added three assisted blocks and one solo, while Justine Lanchester (four), Rachel Lewis (three) and McKee (two) accounted for 12 assisted in the game.

Trailing 2-0 in the match, PC opened the third game in similar fashion as that of the second, as the two teams battled back-and-forth. Winthrop opened a five-point lead at 14-9, before six errors including four attack errors, and key kills by Kettles and Mason narrowed the Eagles lead to three points. Amanda Davis drove back-to-back service aces past the Winthrop defense, tying the game at 21-21. After a service error gave way to Winthrop's Tara Toepke, the Eagles would score seven of the final 13 points en route to the 30-27 decisive win.

PC responded to the Eagles challenge, setting the tone for game two, after an inspirational message from Belshe between games. Falling behind early, Presbyterian rallied with kills by Swain and McKee to knot the game at 7-7. From there the Blue Hose battle through two ties to eventually take a five point lead courtesy of a Mason service ace and two attack errors by Winthrop. As the lead dwindled to one point on five occasions, PC continued to stay ahead by forcing four Eagle errors. The game reached a climatic 24-24 tie, when Presbyterian called a timeout. From there the five-time Big South Conference champions closed out the match with four service aces in the 30-25 victory.

Winthrop jumped out to an early 9-3 advantage in the early stages of the first game, before a Chris Belshe timeout rose the energy level for PC. The match would remain close with an 11-8 scoring run for both, before Winthrop pulled ahead behind Kaley Viola. It was there that the Eagles responded with a 6-3 run, highlighted by kills by Kelli Kirkwood and Kellie Sanders. Presbyterian put together a late four point surge, with Mason serving, which included one service ace and two Winthrop attack errors. Mason led PC in the 30-19 loss with four kills, while sharing three digs with setter Rachel Lewis.

Presbyterian will step outside Big South Conference action as the Blue Hose visit Campbell on Tuesday night.

Presbyterian vs. Winthrop Post-Game Notes

• The Blue Hose are now 5-2 against in-state competition.

• Outside Hitter Lauren Mason is six kills shy from reaching the 1,400 kill mark in her career.

• PC has more solo blocks than their opponents in 11 contests this season.