Box Score AIKEN, S.C.-- Junior outside hitter Stefanie Durham notched a match-best 17 kills to go with 13 digs and four aces as USC Aiken (19-4) held off Newberry (15-7) 3-1 in non-conference volleyball action on Tuesday evening.  Game scores were 30-25, 27-30, 30-21, and 31-29.  The Lady Pacers remain perfect in the new 3,500-seat Convocation Center as they win for the 15th time in their last 16 outings.  USCA is now 14-1 all-time against the Lady Indians.  (PHOTO BY: Ginny Southworth)

Trailing 7-6 in the opening game, Durham ignited a 7-2 spurt with four kills as the Lady Pacers drew in front 13-9.  Newberry pulled within three at 21-19 on a Cara Coleman kill, but back-to-back aces from Durham helped USCA pull away to a 30-25 win.  

In game two, the score was tied 13 times before four-straight Lady Pacer points pushed the margin in USCA's favor 25-22.  But a pair of Kilee Ruppe kills book-ended a 7-1 Lady Indian run as Newberry surged in front 29-26, winning 30-27.  

A quick start to the third set had the Lady Pacers in front 6-1.  As Newberry played catch-up, getting within 18-15, two kills from Mandy Gerolstein fueled an 8-2 run as USCA won going away 30-21.  

Lorena Maia registered three kills early in game four as Newberry struck quickly, building a 13-9 advantage.  USC Aiken countered by notching 10 of the next 12 points to lead 17-15 on a Dani Hroblak attack error, forcing a timeout.  Out of the break, however, the Lady Indians tallied five of the next six scores to again lead 20-18.  

Facing game point, and a possible fifth and final game, Amanda Timm's kill tied the game at 29-29.  On Maia's ensuing attack, Missy Deardorff and Gerolstein teamed up for a big block to lead 30-29.  And to cap off the victory, it was Gerolstein and Timm combining for a block on Kara Harris.  

As a team, the Lady Pacers recorded 11.0 team blocks, holding Newberry to a .147 hitting percentage. 

Timm finished with 14 kills and three blocks while Deardorff added seven kills, 20 digs, and five blocks.  Jasmine Edney chipped in eight kills and six blocks, hitting .300.  USC Aiken entered the match ranked in the top 15 in Division II in hitting percentage (.251), but was off a bit on the night at .218.  

Priscila Sales led the Lady Indians with 17 kills and 13 digs while Maia added 15 kills, 13 digs, and three of the team's eight service aces.  

USC Aiken returns to action on Friday, October 26 when the Peach Belt Conference-leading Lady Pacers host UNC Pembroke at 7:00 PM.  Newberry returns home to host Tusculum in a South Atlantic Conference clash, also on Friday at 7:00 PM. 
Short Box Score
Newberry vs USC Aiken (Oct 23, 2007 at Aiken, S.C.)

USC Aiken def. Newberry 30-25,27-30,30-21,31-29

Newberry (15-7) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Sales, Priscila 17-2-1; Maia, Lorena 15-3-0; Harris, Kara 10-1-0; Hroblak, Niki 6-1-3; Coleman, Cara 4-0-0; Ruppe, Kilee 2-1-1; Hroblak, Dani 1-0-0; Stegall, Christy 1-0-0; Blakely, Brianna 1-0-1; Totals 57-8-4.0. (Assists) - Ruppe, Kilee 38; Blakely, Brianna 10. (Dig leaders) - Sales, Priscila 13; Maia, Lorena 13; Stegall, Christy 12; Harris, Kara 9; Ruppe, Kilee 8.

USC Aiken (19-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Durham, Stefanie 17-4-1; Timm, Amanda 14-0-3; Edney, Jasmine 8-0-6; Gerolstein, Mandy 8-0-5; Deardorff, Missy 7-1-5; Tabbert, Whitney 1-0-0; Cedeno, Lauren 1-1-2; Spice, Danielle 1-0-0; Seidle, Veronica 0-1-0; Totals 57-7-11.0. (Assists) - Cedeno, Lauren 32; Tabbert, Whitney 13. (Dig leaders) - Deardorff, Missy 20; Seidle, Veronica 17; Durham, Stefanie 13; Cedeno, Lauren 8.

Site: Aiken, S.C. (Convocation Center)
Date: Oct 23, 2007   Attend: 94   Time: 2:03
Referees: Jim Gilstrap, Walt Williams