Box Score AIKEN, S.C.-- Mandy Gerolstein led a balanced Lady Pacer attack as USC Aiken (21-4, 7-0 PBC) knocked off Francis Marion (12-20, 3-6 PBC) in three games on Saturday afternoon with scores of 30-22, 30-19, and 30-23.  With the win, USC Aiken clinches at least a share of the program's sixth Peach Belt Conference regular season championship.  One more victory over the final three PBC contests remaining on the Lady Pacers' schedule insures the team their first outright championship in 12 years. (PHOTO BY: Ginny Southworth)  

A perfect 7-0 in their brand new 3,500-seat Convocation Center, USC Aiken has won 16-straight individual games against conference foes dating back to September 19.  USCA leads the all-time series with Francis Marion 25-14.  

The Lady Pacers used an 8-2 run to break open a 7-5 contest in game one.  Jasmine Edney registered two of her eight kills during the spurt.  Leading 24-14, a Jessica Lombardi kill pulled the Patriots within 25-19, but USCA scored five of the game's final eight points for the 30-22 win. 

Lombardi led Francis Marion with 15 kills and seven digs, hitting .290.  The rest of the Patriots managed only an .045 hitting percentage.  

In game two, it was another early run that proved to be the difference as USCA broke open a 7-7 game by scoring 10 of the next 12 points to claim a 17-9 advantage.  Francis Marion failed to threaten after that in a 30-19 final count.  

Leading 9-8 in the third set, kills from Gerolstein, Amanda Timm, and Missy Deardorff powered a 9-3 run as USC Aiken extended the spread to 18-11.  A block by Michelle Settergren and Kaitlin Straiter drew the Patriots within three at 20-17, but the Lady Pacers reeled off five-straight to take command 25-17, winning 30-23.  

Gerolstein tallied a team-best 12 kills to go with five blocks and a .409 hitting percentage.  Stefanie Durham added 11 kills, nine digs, and two aces while Deardorff and Timm each registered 10 kills.  Deardorff, fresh off her 1,000th-kill in last night's win over UNC Pembroke, recorded 15 digs, her eight double double of the season. 

Senior libero Veronica Seidle notched a match-high 19 digs while sophomore setter Lauren Cedeno tallied 44 assists.  As a team, the league's best offense hit .328 and registered 10.0 team blocks.  

Jenna Kaiser had 32 assists for Francis Marion while Kelsie Deaton added 14 digs.  

USC Aiken will host Lander University in a key Peach Belt Conference clash on Wednesday, October 31 at 7:00 PM.  As part of a Halloween promotion, all fans that attend the game in costume will be admitted free of charge.  Francis Marion will host UNC Pembroke on Friday, November 2 at 7:00 PM.

Short Box Score
Francis Marion vs USC Aiken (Oct 27, 2007 at Aiken, S.C.)

USC Aiken def. Francis Marion 30-22,30-19,30-23

Francis Marion (12-20, 3-6 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lombardi, Jessica 15-0-1; Straiter, Kaitlin 8-1-2; Phiel, Jackie 6-1-0; Settergren, Michelle 4-0-2; Eggert, Mallory 2-0-1; Kaiser, Jenna 2-1-0; O'Leary, Jess 0-1-0; Deaton, Kelsie 0-1-0; Totals 37-5-4.0. (Assists) - Kaiser, Jenna 32. (Dig leaders) - Deaton, Kelsie 14; Phiel, Jackie 9.

USC Aiken (21-4, 7-0 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gerolstein, Mandy 12-0-5; Durham, Stefanie 11-2-1; Deardorff, Missy 10-0-1; Timm, Amanda 10-2-1; Edney, Jasmine 8-1-4; Cedeno, Lauren 1-0-3; Seidle, Veronica 0-1-0; Totals 52-6-10.0. (Assists) - Cedeno, Lauren 44. (Dig leaders) - Seidle, Veronica 19; Deardorff, Missy 15; Durham, Stefanie 9.

Site: Aiken, S.C. (Convocation Center)
Date: Oct 27, 2007   Attend: 67   Time: 1:21
Referees: Mike Rehberg, David Young