Box Score PEMBROKE, N.C.-- USC Aiken (18-3, 5-0 PBC) held off a game UNC Pembroke (15-12, 2-3 PBC) squad in the opening set, then hit their stride to post a key 3-0 win in Peach Belt Conference volleyball action on Friday evening at the Jones Athletic Center.  Game scores were 34-32, 30-14, and 30-23.  The win is the 14th-straight by the Lady Pacers, their longest streak since 1991. (PHOTO BY: Scott Webster)

Closing out the road portion of their conference season at a perfect 5-0, the Lady Pacers have won seven-straight league road games dating back to last season.  USCA improves to 35-7 all-time against the Lady Braves with their 10th-straight victory in the series.  

Two-time All-Conference middle hitter Mandy Gerolstein led the Lady Pacer attack with 14 kills and three blocks, hitting .321. 

In game one, UNC Pembroke grabbed an early lead and extended it to 21-16 midway through the opening stanza.  The Lady Pacers rattled off the next six points to seize the lead 22-21 thanks to three kills by Missy Deardorff and a service ace from Stefanie Durham.  

Trailing 24-23, USCA again pushed in front 27-24 on back-to-back kills by Katie Baker.  The junior outside hitter came off the bench midway through the game to provide a lift, finishing the match with 13 kills and hitting .423.  The Lady Braves, however, again failed to fade away, and after an ace and kill by Heidi Platow, knotted the game up at 27-27.  

UNC Pembroke had a chance at game point three times before senior Jasmine Edney's kill tied the game at 32-32, the start of a 3-0 run to close the game as USCA eked out the 34-32 victory.  Edney registered four kills and two blocks, hitting .571 in the game. 

The Peach Belt Conference's most efficient offense, ranking 10th in Division II in hitting percentage, rebounded from a .183 performance in the opening game to finish at .270 for the match.  

Continuing with the momentum of game one, USC Aiken bolted to an early 3-0 lead and increased the spread to 15-7.  UNC Pembroke scored three of the next four points to pull within six before the Lady Pacers used the decisive run of the game to blow open the second set.  Durham had four kills in a 10-2 burst as USCA ballooned the advantage to 26-12.  In winning 30-14, the Lady Pacers hit a robust .485 in game two.  

Leading by a slim 7-6 margin in game three, USC Aiken used a 12-3 spurt to take command 19-9.  UNC Pembroke attempted a comeback, drawing within 20-14 behind a pair of Jessica Hartley kills, but Gerolstein proved to be too much.  She logged seven kills in the third game as USC Aiken won 30-23.  

Stefanie Durham added 11 kills and 20 digs while preseason All-Conference performer Missy Deardorff chipped in nine kills and 16 digs from her right side position.  Sophomore setter Lauren Cedeno directed the offense with 48 assists.  

Hartley led UNC Pembroke with a team-high 11 kills to go with three blocks, hitting .269.  Platow recorded eight kills and served two of the team's three service aces.  

USC Aiken, who has not dropped a game to a Division II foe in the past eight matches, will travel to Wingate, N.C. for a huge non-conference, regional showdown with the Lady Bulldogs of Wingate on Wednesday, October 17 at 6:00 PM.  Wingate, ranked fourth in the South Region, is 21-1 with their only loss coming on September 8 in Aiken.

Short Box Score
USC Aiken vs UNC Pembroke (Oct 13, 2007 at Pembroke, N.C.)

USC Aiken def. UNC Pembroke 34-32,30-14,30-23

USC Aiken (18-3, 5-0 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gerolstein, Mandy 14-0-3; Baker, Katie 13-0-1; Durham, Stefanie 11-2-0; Deardorff, Missy 9-2-0; Edney, Jasmine 5-1-4; Timm, Amanda 1-0-1; Cedeno, Lauren 0-1-3; Totals 53-6-7.0. (Assists) - Cedeno, Lauren 48. (Dig leaders) - Durham, Stefanie 20; Deardorff, Missy 16; Seidle, Veronica 14; Cedeno, Lauren 9.

UNC Pembroke (15-12, 2-3 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Hartley, Jessica 11-0-3; Platow, Heidi 8-2-0; Niesborella, Rebekah 7-1-1; Young, Rachel 7-0-0; O'Connor, Lizzie 5-0-1; Anderson, Tiara 2-0-1; Fierce, Heather 1-0-0; Totals 41-3-4.0. (Assists) - Fierce, Heather 33. (Dig leaders) - Laza, Andrea 15; Fierce, Heather 14; Haworth, Caitlin 11.

Site: Pembroke, N.C. (English E. Jones)
Date: Oct 13, 2007   Attend: 89   Time: 1:21   
Referees: Doug Fagan, Marylin Thompson