PEMBROKE, N.C. The Mountain Lions faced quite a challenge on their second day of the road trip, ultimately falling 3-0 to UNC Pembroke and Shaw University (Oct 19^th).
 
The Mountain Lions move to 2-11 overall and are 2-7 in Conference Carolinas. The UNC Pembroke Braves move to 9-11 overall and are 6-3 in Conference Carolinas. The Shaw Bears move to 19-3 on the season.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH JENNY MICHAEL:
"Today was a bit of a rollercoaster. We demonstrated tremendous tenacity against UNCP, fighting to the end of every set regardless of the score. Then, with minimal turn around, like the opening rounds of the conference tournament play, we had to face an impressively athletic Shaw team. On the whole, today presented us several opportunities for lessons to be learned. The greatest of these being that positivity, energy, and enthusiasm do not guarantee victory; but the absence of these intangibles most certainly leads to defeat."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
 
vs UNC Pembroke

• Young Harris fell to UNC Pembroke in straight sets (18-25, 20-25, 18-25).
• Nicole Klucharich led the Mountain Lion offense from the right side with 10 kills, at a .455 hitting percentage. Outside hitters Abby Schirm and Lily Hidalgo were right behind. Schirm had 10 kills (.259), and Hidalgo had 9 (.292).
• Shelby Mullins hit a dominating .545 hitting percentage from the middle with 6 kills of her own.
• Lyza Thigpen ran the offense and tallied 31 assists and 7 digs.
• The Braves were very successful on the offensive side of the ball, finishing with a .385 hitting percentage as a team. This was a season high.
• UNCP had 10 service aces to YHC's 2. Joha Bernis and Rylie Springer were the contributors for YHC.
• Both teams put up 5 blocks. Kathryn Urbanek (3), Nicole Klucharich (2), and Lily Hidalgo (1) held down the net for the Mountain Lions.

 
vs Shaw

• The Mountain Lions dropped to the Bears in three sets (9-25, 22-25, 21-25).

• Rylie Springer (6), Lauren DeSilets (5), and Mallory Ivey (4) were the kill leaders in this match for YHC.
• Elanah Hardeen and Lauren DeSilets each had themselves a pair of service aces. The Bears had 9 aces to the Mountain Lions' 2.
• Setter Rylee (Alyssa) DeSimone recorded 14 assists in addition to 8 digs.
• The Bears hit a collective .310 hitting percentage compared to the Mountain Lions' .086.
• Shaw won the defensive battle at the net with 5 blocks, to Young Harris's 1. Sophie Bearden and Lauren DeSilets were the combination for YHC.

 
UP NEXT: The Mountain Lions return home this Wednesday (Oct 23^rd) to take on the Shorter University Hawks in a mid-week match. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 PM at The Harp Recreation & Commencement Center.
 
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