CLINTON, S.C. - Despite a near-perfect night by senior Amanda Kettles, the Presbyterian College volleyball team was unable to post a victory over UNC Asheville, falling 3-1 in an extremely tight match. Set scores were 25-22, 16-25, 24-26, 25-27.

The Blue Hose drop to 8-10 on the season and 1-3 in Big South play. The Bulldogs improve to 11-7 overall and 4-1 against conference competition.

Presley Mabrey posted a team-high 20 kills to go along with six digs in the loss. Lisa Shelley ripped 14 kills to go with a match-high 17 digs. However, it was Kettles' night as she blasted home 17 kills on 24 attempts for a .708 attack percentage without committing an error.

Redshirt-senior Kilee Ruppe dished out a match-best and near-career high 53 assists. She almost notched a double-double as she collected eight digs.

In the first set, PC fell behind 3-0 before running off four consecutive points. Andrea Barman got things going and Allison Brown followed it up with a kill. An attack error by Asheville gave the Blue Hose their first advantage of the night, 4-3. The teams continued to battle back-and-forth for much of the set, just like it was all night long.

Trailing by one, 17-16, Mabrey split the defense as she elevated over the two blockers, smashing home the point. That kill sparked a 3-0 min-run by the home team, giving head coach Chris Belshe's team a 19-17 advantage.

The Bulldogs tied it at 20, but PC would inch ahead. After a time-out by Belshe and the Blue Hose leading 23-22, Ruppe found Kettles for back-to-back kills, ending the first set with a PC victory.

In the second set, PC jumped out to a 3-1 lead only to see Asheville score nine of the next 11 points for a 10-5 advantage. Belshe's team was relentless, going on a 7-1 run of its own to knot the score. During the spurt, Kettles and Shelley recorded kills as did Mabrey. Then, Carolyn Fabros confused the defense with an ace that dropped between a few Bulldogs. Three straight attack errors by Cindi Miller gave PC a 12-11 margin.

After two long rallies, the visitors took a lead they would not relinquish in the set.

PC started out in fine fashion in set three, sprinting ahead 4-0 thanks in part to kills by Mabrey and Barman. The Blue Hose controlled the set, staying ahead 10-5 on a kill by Kettles. PC went ahead 19-13 on another kill by Kettles. However, Asheville responded by going on an 8-1 run, taking a 21-20 lead. PC tied it on the next point when Barman stuffed an Asheville attack.

Trailing 23-21, Mabrey's kill an a visitor attack error knotted the contest at 23. Shelley tied the set again at 24 on a kill. Then, a kill by Asheville and a miscommunication on the front line by PC allowed the Bulldogs to claim a 26-24 win in the third set.

The fourth set was one for the ages. The teams played even through the first 18 points. Then, the Blue Hose took an 11-9 lead on an ace by Ruppe and an attack error by Miller. PC continued to stretch its lead to four, 18-14, on a service error by Asheville.

The Bulldogs tied the set at 19 only to have Mabrey answer with a smash. The visitors eventually took a 22-21 lead, but Shelley answered the bell with a kill of her own. With PC ahead 24-23, Kelsey Benorden tied the set with a point.

The visitors took a 25-24 lead, but Shelley was able to keep the Blue Hose alive with a point. Then, Asheville was able to manage two kills to end the match with a 27-25 victory.

The Blue Hose return to action Friday night when they hit the road for a Big South showdown at Radford. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.