Box Score AIKEN, S.C.-- As USC Aiken (24-4, 10-0 PBC) said farewell to six seniors who combined for 23 years of service to the Lady Pacer Volleyball program, it seemed only fitting that the theme for the night was perfection.  With a 3-1 win over Armstrong Atlantic State (16-19, 5-5 PBC), USCA completed its first undefeated run through the PBC in 15 years.  And at 10-0 in their first year in the 3,500-seat Convocation Center, it is the school's first unblemished home record since 1997.  Game scores were 30-23, 29-31, 30-20, and 30-21.  (PHOTO BY: Ginny Southworth)

The game two defeat, however, did halt the Lady Pacers impressive streak of individual games won versus conference foes at 23 dating back to a 3-1 win at Lander on September 22.  USCA did finish 30-4 in individual games versus the PBC, notching their first season sweep of the Pirates since 1998.  

Missy Deardorff fueled five-straight Lady Pacer points early in game one to turn a 6-5 deficit into a 10-6 advantage.  The senior right side was nearly perfect herself in her final home appearance.  One of only three Lady Pacers in school history with at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs, she tallied a team-high 15 kills to go with 12 digs, five blocks, and two aces, hitting .519.  As a team, USC Aiken outhit the Pirates .221 to .090.  

The Lady Pacers pushed the bulge to 17-10 followed one of Mandy Gerolstein's 11 kills on the afternoon.  The senior middle hitter, and likely PBC Player of the Year, hit .364 and recorded three blocks.  

Kassi Kixmiller pulled Armstrong Atlantic State within 19-15, but USC Aiken widened the margin at the end 30-23. 

At the exact midpoint of game two, with USC Aiken leading 15-14, AASU rattled off seven-straight points highlighted by four kills from Antje Reuleke to seize control 20-15.  Reuleke led all players with 16 kills to go with a pair of blocks and eight digs.

USCA crawled back to tie and eventually take the lead and serve for game point at 29-28, but Allyson Ray's service ace capped a 3-0 Pirate spurt to give AASU the 31-29 victory.  

Leading by the same 15-14 margin in the third set, this time it was the Lady Pacers going on the run to put the game away.  Scoring nine of the next 10 points to lead 24-15, Deardorff rang up three kills to spark the attack as USCA won 30-20.  

In game four, five ties characterized close play early, but with the last coming at 13-13, USC Aiken used another 9-1 run shortly there after to push out in front 23-15 following three blocks in a span of four points by Jasmine Edney and Deardorff.  USCA won 30-21.  

Edney, a senior middle hitter, finished with 10 kills, seven digs, and six blocks, hitting .318.  Senior Amanda Timm had five kills, while senior defensive specialists Veronica Seidle and Christina Greene tallied 20 and eight digs respectively. 

Gwendolyn Clarke recorded 15 kills and two blocks for Armstrong Atlantic State while Stacia McCoy registered 20 digs.  

USC Aiken, the 2007 Peach Belt Conference Regular Season Champions, receive a bye in next weekend's PBC Tournament hosted by Lander University in Greenwood, S.C.  The Lady Pacers will await a first-round winner and will play Saturday evening in the semifinals.  AASU enters the tournament as the three seed and will open against the sixth seed, also on Saturday. 
Short Box Score
Armstrong Atlantic vs USC Aiken (Nov 03, 2007 at Aiken, S.C.)

USC Aiken def. Armstrong Atlantic 30-23,29-31,30-20,30-21

Armstrong Atlantic (16-19, 5-5 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Reuleke, Antje 16-0-2; Clarke, Gwendolyn 15-1-2; McCoy, Stacia 7-1-0; Kixmiller, Kassi 6-0-0; Ray, Allyson 4-1-2; Yates, Nicole 1-1-0; Segebart, Hannah 0-2-2; Totals 49-6-4.0. (Assists) - Segebart, Hannah 47. (Dig leaders) - McCoy, Stacia 20; Yates, Nicole 15; Reuleke, Antje 8.

USC Aiken (24-4, 10-0 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Deardorff, Missy 15-2-5; Gerolstein, Mandy 11-0-3; Durham, Stefanie 11-3-4; Edney, Jasmine 10-1-6; Timm, Amanda 5-0-1; Baker, Katie 2-0-0; Seidle, Veronica 1-2-0; Cedeno, Lauren 0-2-1; Totals 55-10-13.0. (Assists) - Cedeno, Lauren 49. (Dig leaders) - Seidle, Veronica 20; Deardorff, Missy 12; Cedeno, Lauren 10; Durham, Stefanie 9; Greene, Christina 8

Site: Aiken, S.C. (Convocation Center)
Date: Nov 03, 2007   Attend: 127   Time: 1:46
Referees: Buzz Thompson, Glenn Goudy