Brown Notches 500th Career Kill in 4-Set Loss to Johnson

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College Volleyball team dropped their home match with Johnson University (TN) in four tough sets Friday evening from the Godbold Center on Dig Pink Night.

Johnson won the first set 25-21 as the teams combined for 25 kills in the game. Columbia then came storming back to take the second set 25-23 winning on a Maranda Bird kill as CC totaled 16 kills in the set hitting .220.

The third set then saw the Royals get out to a 14-5 start before cruising to the set win 25-16. Finally, in the fourth set, the Koalas got out to a 15-12 lead but could not extend it any further as JU went on a 8-3 run to take a 20-18 lead and force a Koala timeout. JU would then close out the match 25-19 for the win.

Senior middle blocker Destiny Brown spiked her 500th career kill in the defeat while totaling 11 kills in the match to hit .120 with a block.

Sophomore outside hitter Tamia Fripp played very well leading the team with 17 kills while hitting .484 with 9 digs and an ace. Junior OH Maranda Bird also tallied nine kills and eight digs. Freshman middle hitter Melodi Paige added 5 kills as well.

Junior setter Debra Shephard led the team with 44 assists along with 7 digs and a kill while sophomore libero Katie Roberts recorded 22 digs and three aces to lead the team.

Columbia falls to 3-18 overall and 3-9 in the AAC with the loss while JU improves to 21-5 and 9-2 in the league moving into third place.

The Koalas are right back in action on Saturday afternoon when they host Union Commonwealth (Ky.) at 3:00 pm.