FLORENCE, S.C.--The USC Aiken volleyball team (3-1) opened the 2004 season with a strong 3-1 start at the Joseph B. DuRant Invitational hosted by Francis Marion University. The Lady Pacers split a pair of matches on Friday, August 27, beginning with a 3-0 win over Barton College (30-16, 30-20, 30-20) before falling 3-1 to Carson-Newman (30-25, 25-30, 32-34, 27-30). On Saturday, USCA swept both their matches, winning 3-2 over Wingate (30-25, 23-30, 30-25, 23-30, 15-13) and 3-1 against Saint Andrews (26-30, 30-23, 30-14, 30-25).

West Georgia and Carson-Newman each went 4-0 in the 10-team tournament while the Lady Pacers were the only team to go 3-1. 

Senior Jenny Lloyd led the way for the Lady Pacers averaging 5.12 kills per game over the weekend. Freshman Mandy Gerolstein made a strong debut adding 2.62 kills and 0.88 blocks per game. 

In the 3-0 win over Barton, Gerolstein and freshman Veronica Seidle each tallied 12 kills to pace USCA's attack. Gerolstein added four service aces and two block assists for a team-high 17.0 points. Lloyd recorded 13.0 points with 10 kills and three aces. 

"This was a good start for us. We started off hot, struggled for short periods of time, but were able to regain our focus," said head coach Will Condon. "We are capable of playing a lot better once we get comfortable playing with each other and our freshman get used to our system." 

USCA hit .284 for the match with eight service aces and 6.0 team blocks. 

In a match that was scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM on Friday but was delayed until after 8:00 PM, Carson-Newman overcame a first game loss to knock off the Lady Pacers 3-1. Lloyd tallied her 13th career 20+ kill match with 22 kills and 18 digs. Freshman Missy Deardorff chipped in 13 kills and four blocks.

Junior setter Rachel Dalitz tallied 50 assists to go with nine kills and an impressive .533 hitting percentage. Gerolstein, Seidle, and sophomore Laura Williams each registered eight kills. 

On Saturday, Lloyd turned in her fourth career 30+ kill performance with 31 kills, 23 digs, two blocks, and one ace for a total of 33.0 points in a hard fought 3-2 win over Wingate. The 31 kills is the 10th best individual total in Peach Belt Conference history. Lloyd owns four of the top 10 all-time marks. 

"This was a big win for this young team," said Condon. "We made some adjustments in the match that the players executed perfectly. We've learned a lot in three matches and hopefully we can continue to improve at that rate." 

Deardorff notched 14 kills and four block assists for 16.0 points while Gerolstein was also in double figures in points with 13.5 on nine kills and seven blocks. 

In the final match of the tournament, USC Aiken overcame a slow start to win the final three games and take the 3-1 victory over Saint Andrews. Lloyd had 23.0 points on 19 kills, three aces, and two blocks. Dalitz added 50 assists, five kills, four aces, and two blocks while Gerolstein and Seidle chipped in 13 and 12 kills respectively. 

USC Aiken hit .294 for the match, and for the tournament, hit .230. 

With 82 kills this weekend, Lloyd moved into eighth place on the PBC's career kills list with 1,199, passing Lauren Westervelt of North Florida (1,137). 

USC Aiken will host rival Presbyterian on Tuesday, August 31 at 7:00 PM in the Lady Pacers home opener.

2004 Joseph B. DuRant Memorial Invitational Volleyball Tournament

Team Records after tournament play:

University of Charleston (WV) 4-0

West Georgia 4-0

Carson-Newman 4-0

USC Aiken 3-1

Presbyterian 2-2

Francis Marion 1-3

Lander 1-3 

Wingate 1-3

St. Andrews 0-4

Barton 0-4