COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team fell on the road at Columbus State University 3-2 in a hard-fought Peach Belt Conference match Oct. 22.

The Cougars edged the Falcons 25-20, 14-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-13.

Sophomore Rebekah Phelps led Montevallo (15-7 overall, 8-4 in Peach Belt Conference) with 17 kills in the match.

Senior Manyi Ati added 12 kills, while fellow senior Michelle Carle registered 10 kills. Sophomore Anna Quinn contributed nine kills.

Senior Kaleigh Harvey, the reigning Peach Belt Conference Specialist of the Week, recorded a match-high 24 digs. Sophomore Briana Marquez finished with a match-high 49 assists.

The Falcons dropped the opening set against the Cougars, 25-20. Ati led Montevallo with three kills in the first set.

Montevallo rallied to pick up an impressive 25-14 win in the second set. The Falcons opened the set with a 7-1 run, fueled by three kills by Phelps. Harvey, Quinn and Carle recorded a kill each for the Falcons' final three points to help Montevallo even the match.

The Falcons fell to Columbus State 25-22 in the third set in a tight battle throughout the set. The Cougars broke a 21-21 tie with a 4-1 run to end the set and escape with the win.

Montevallo responded with a 25-20 win in the fourth set. The Falcons jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the frame and secured the win with a 7-3 run to end the set. Carle recorded a pair of kills down the stretch to help Montevallo even the match.

The Falcons took an early lead in the fifth and final set, with a kill by Ati giving Montevallo a 8-5 lead. However, the Cougars closed the set with a 10-5 run to clinch the match.

The Falcons return to action Friday, Nov. 1 with a trip to Savannah, Ga. to take on current Peach Belt Conference leader Armstrong Atlantic State University.