CLINTON, S.C. - The Presbyterian College volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Winthrop Friday evening by scores of 25-22, 25-21 and 26-24.

The Blue Hose fall to 7-13 on the season and 2-4 in Big South Conference play. The Eagles improve to 13-6 on the year and 5-1 against conference competition.

Leading the way for PC was junior Lisa Shelley, who notched a match-high 16 kills. Rookie Allison Brown pounded out 10 kills.

Redshirt-junior Kilee Ruppe dished out a match-high 35 assists while tacking on an ace, a block assist and five digs. Defensively, Elizabeth Heineman accounted for a team-best nine digs while Amanda Kettles led the way with two block assists. Shelley chipped in with the only solo stuff of the contest.

In the first set, PC found itself in a 5-0 hole before responding on an 11-2 run, which was fueled by Alesia Paul's keen serving ability. During the run, Shelley recorded a couple of kills while Brown also notched a point. The duo also stuffed a shot, which actually gave the Blue Hose their first lead of the night, 8-7.

Ashley Dunlap dropped back to serve for four consecutive points as head coach Chris Belshe's team took a 12-8 lead. The team held a 14-10 advantage on a kill from Shelley, but the home team found itself in a battle as the teams played to a 19-19 score.

With Dunlap back to serve, the Eagles were able to get the ball to Becca Toor, who slammed home back-to-back kills. PC was unable to recover as the Eagles took the 25-22 win in the first set. 

PC would quickly fall behind in the second set by a 9-4 margin after an error. A time-out helped the Blue Hose regain their composure as the team fought back, tying the contest at 12 apiece when Haley Thurmond's shot sliced through the defense. The squads would take turns scoring until the set was tied at 17 apiece on an attack error by Kellie Sellers.

With the score tied, the Eagles went on another late run, holding a 22-18 lead off a kill by Baylee Strachan. PC would fight back with a quick kill by Mabrey, but the team could get no closer than three the rest of the way as Winthrop took the 25-21 win.

The Blue Hose started out strong in the third stanza, taking an 11-9 lead on Paul's ace. PC and the Eagles would once again go back-and-forth with neither team holding more than a three-point lead.

Trailing 18-15, Shelley, Kettles and Mabrey quickly evened the playing field at 18 apiece. Ruppe and Kettles then stuffed a shot for the 19-18 advantage. PC was able to tie the contest at 22-all and even took a one-point lead, 23-22, but the squad could not put together the final two points it needed, falling 26-24.

The Blue Hose return to action tomorrow at 2 p.m., when they host Coastal Carolina in a crucial Big South Conference competition.