Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FLORENCE, S.C.--After stumbling to Catawba (6-1) 3-1 in the morning session of day two of the Francis Marion University Invitational, USC Aiken (5-3) rebounded with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Lenoir-Rhyne (5-4) to avoid the program's first three-match losing streak in four years.  Game scores against the Indians were 30-20, 18-30, 30-21, and 30-26.  In the contest with Lenoir-Rhyne, scores were 26-30, 30-26, 28-30, 30-28, and 19-17. (PHOTO BY: Andy Meng)

Mandy Gerolstein led the Lady Pacer attack in the morning match with Catawba, ringing up 18.5 points on 14 kills and five blocks, but hit just .189.  As a team, USC Aiken struggled to a .153 hitting percentage including a -.029 clip in game one and a .064 percentage in game four.  

Senior right side Missy Deardorff added nine kills, four aces, and 13 digs, hitting .364.  She was the only Lady Pacer to hit above .190 for the match.  Stefanie Durham chipped in 10 kills and a team-high 20 digs while sophomore setter Lauren Cedeno tallied 35 assists.  

In the nightcap, the Lady Pacers played mostly without the services of Gerolstein, who saw action in one of the five games.  As a result, freshman Megan Disney and junior Katie Baker made the most of their opportunities, registering eight and 14 kills respectively.  Baker hit .324 to go with five blocks as USC Aiken upped their team percentage to .205.  

Deardorff recorded 12 kills, two aces, five blocks, and 20 digs while senior middle hitter Jasmine Edney added 15 kills and three blocks.  Durham posted a team-best 19 kills to go with four aces and 28 digs.  The sophomore setter duo of Whitney Tabbert and Cedeno combined for 69 assists. 

Senior libero Veronica Seidle led the defense with a school-record 41 digs.  The total is the third-highest ever recorded in the Peach Belt Conference, trailing only Paige Champy's (Francis Marion) 46 set in 1994 and Christen Halberstadt's (Lander) 43 back in 2003.  

Concluding the FMU Invitational with a 2-2 record, USC Aiken closes out its season-opening nine-game road swing on Wednesday, September 5 with a 7:00 PM showdown at Newberry.  The Lady Pacers return to Aiken, S.C. next weekend to host the USC Aiken Invitational and christen the 3,600-seat Convocation Center. 
Short Box Score (vs. Catawba)
Catawba vs USC Aiken (Sep 01, 2007 at Florence, S.C.)

Catawba def. USC Aiken 30-20,18-30,30-21,30-26

USC Aiken (4-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gerolstein, Mandy 14-0-5; Durham, Stefanie 10-0-0; Deardorff, Missy 9-4-1; Edney, Jasmine 8-0-1; Timm, Amanda 7-2-1; Cedeno, Lauren 1-0-0; Totals 49-6-6.0. (Assists) - Cedeno, Lauren 35. (Dig leaders) - Durham, Stefanie 20; Timm, Amanda 13; Deardorff, Missy 13; Spice, Danielle 8.

Site: Florence, S.C. (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Sep 01, 2007   Attend: 35   Time: 1:40