Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken (5-1) turned in an impressive 3-1 victory over previously unbeaten Eckerd College (3-1) on the opening night of the 2004 USC Aiken Volleyball Tournament. Game scores were 30-19, 29-31, 30-15, and 30-19. In the first match of the night, Augusta State (1-5) knocked off Fayetteville State (0-3) 3-1 with scores of 22-30, 30-24, 30-26, and 30-27. 

"That had to be one of the most impressive efforts out of a USCA team since I have been here," said fifth-year head coach Will Condon. "Except for about eight points in game two, I don't think we could have played any better. Eckerd is a solid team with good outside hitters and defenders." 

Jenny Lloyd recorded her 14th career 20+ kill performance, extending her current school record mark. The senior from Fife, Wash. racked up 22 kills, 12 digs, four blocks, and an impressive .425 hitting percentage for a game-high 25.5 points. As a team, the Lady Pacers hit .366 while holding the Tritons to .076. 

Freshmen Mandy Gerolstein, Missy Deardorff, and Veronica Seidle all had double-digit point nights with 16.5, 10.5 and 10.5 respectively. Sophomore Laura Williams was the fifth player in double figures with 10.5 points and a .533 hitting percentage. 

Junior setter Rachel Dalitz added five kills, 11 digs, and three blocks to go with her 45 assists in directing the attack. 

Brittany Kauss was the lone Triton in double figures in kills with 16. Leigh Badoyen added nine kills, four blocks, and one ace for 12.0 points. 

After falling behind 4-1 to open the match, USCA surged ahead 8-4 behind a 7-0 run capped by a Karen McClellan ace. Still maintaining the four-point advantage, a 9-2 run pushed the bulge to double digits at 21-11 as the Lady Pacers cruised to the 30-19 win in game one. 

Game two opened with tight play as the two squads tied the game 11 times before it was 13-13. A 6-1 spurt opened up a USCA lead 27-20, but a feisty Eckerd team scored nine of the game's last 10 points to pull off the come-from-behind win 31-29. 

In game three, the Lady Pacers again dominated play. A pair of 4-0 and 6-1 runs broke the game open 19-11 after a pair of kills from Seidle. Leading 20-14, scored 10 of the final 11 points keyed by six kills and a solo block from Lloyd. 

Three kills and a block by Gerolstein opened up a 3-3 game four with a 9-1 run. Leading 13-8, another 9-2 spurt blew the game open 22-10 as the Lady Pacers won going away 30-19. 

USC Aiken will play the first match of the tournament tomorrow starting at 10:00 AM against Fayetteville State. 

Short Box Score (Match)
Eckerd vs. USC Aiken (Sep 03, 2004 at Aiken, S.C.)
USC Aiken def. Eckerd 30-19,29-31,30-15,30-19

Eckerd (3-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Brittany Kauss 16-0-0; Leigh Badoyen 9-1-4; Andrea Kryzstan 5-0-3; Kati Therriault 5-0-1; Amanda Donnell 4-0-2; Courtney Cherry 4-0-0; Alex Arendell 1-0-0; Michelle Whitney 1-3-3; Mary McNicol 0-0-2; Totals 45-4-8.0. (Assists) - Michelle Whitney 31. (Dig leaders) - Andrea Kryzstan 17; Lynn Walroth 11.

USC Aiken (5-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lloyd, Jenny 22-1-4; Gerolstein, Mandy 9-3-7; Deardorff, Missy 9-0-3; Seidle, Veronica 9-0-2; Williams, Laura 8-0-4; Dalitz, Rachel 5-1-3; Lane, Jessica 0-1-0; McClellan, Karen 0-2-0; Totals 62-8-14.0. (Assists) - Dalitz, Rachel 45. (Dig leaders) - McClellan, Karen 20; Lloyd, Jenny 12; Dalitz, Rachel 11; Seidle, Veronica 9; Deardorff, Missy 8.

Site: Aiken, S.C. (The Courthouse)
Date: Sep 03, 2004 Attend: 115 Time: 1:36