Box Score GREENWOOD, S.C.--USC Aiken (10-3, 2-0 PBC) overcame a poor hitting performance to hold off Lander University (11-3, 0-1 PBC) in four games on Wednesday evening at Horne Arena in Peach Belt Conference volleyball.  Game scores were 30-26, 30-24, 27-30, and 30-27.  The Lady Pacers, winners of sixth-straight, remain atop the PBC standings at 2-0 with their eighth consecutive victory over the Bearcats.  USCA is 15-2 all-time versus Lander.  (PHOTO BY: Brandon Underwood)

Senior middle hitter Mandy Gerolstein tallied a team-best 19 kills to go with three blocks.  Stefanie Durham registered 12 kills, four blocks, and 26 digs while Amanda Timm also tallied double-digit kills with 11.  Senior libero Veronica Seidle dug a match-high 27 balls.  Lauren Cedeno dished out 50 assists and served two aces.  

The league's most efficient offense managed just a .157 hitting percentage compared to a slightly better .162 effort from Lander.  

Preseason All-Conference performer Kay Stewart paced Lander with 21 kills and four blocks.  Ten of Stewart's 21 kills came in game three in which the Bearcats won 30-27.  Kerri Sorensen chipped in 15 kills and 10 digs while libero Melissa Trippany notched 21 digs.  

In game one, Sara Senn's solo block on a Durham attack pulled Lander within a point at 18-17.  But a dump-over kill by Cedeno ignited a 4-0 Lady Pacer run, increasing the margin to 22-17 as USCA went on for the 30-26 victory.  

A Durham kill in game two capped off a fast 12-3 start, resulting in a Lander timeout.  The Bearcats responded with four-straight scores out of the timeout, but USC Aiken rattled off their own 5-0 spurt to lead 17-7.  Lander pulled within striking distance at 26-23 before USC Aiken put the game away 30-24. 

Four-straight USCA attack errors combined with back-to-back kills from Stewart capped off a scorching start to game three with Lander up 8-0.  The Lady Pacers, however, battled back, scoring eight of the next 10 points.  After Lander increased the lead to 13-9, USC Aiken finally claimed its first advantage of the set 20-18 following two-straight kills from Jasmine Edney.  Tied 23-23, Andrea Griffin's ace had Lander in front 27-23, going on to win 30-27.  

In the fourth-game, 12 ties characterized the tight play.  Trailing 27-26, Gerolstein tied the game with her 19th kill.  Two attack errors by Lander followed by Durham's game-ending kill gave USC Aiken the 30-27 win.  

USC Aiken will step back out of conference action to participate in the Anderson Regional Crossover Tournament this weekend in Anderson, S.C.  The Lady Pacers will take on Barton College on Friday, September 21 at 7:00 PM and then play North Greenville and Anderson on Saturday. 

Short Box Score
USC Aiken vs Lander (Sep 19, 2007 at Greenwood, S.C.)

USC Aiken def. Lander 30-26,30-24,27-30,30-27

USC Aiken (10-3, 2-0 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gerolstein, Mandy 19-0-3; Durham, Stefanie 12-1-4; Timm, Amanda 11-1-0; Edney, Jasmine 9-2-4; Deardorff, Missy 8-1-1; Cedeno, Lauren 3-2-0; Baker, Katie 2-0-0; Seidle, Veronica 1-2-0; Totals 65-9-7.0. (Assists) - Cedeno, Lauren 50. (Dig leaders) - Seidle, Veronica 27; Durham, Stefanie 26; Deardorff, Missy 17; Timm, Amanda 10.

Lander (11-3, 0-1 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Stewart, Kay 21-0-4; Sorensen, Kerri 15-0-1; Griffin, Andrea 8-1-3; Ferry, Ashley 6-0-1; Wasik, Mallory 5-0-1; Senn, Sara 4-1-3; Prosser, Katerina 1-0-1; Camps, Marina 0-2-0; LaRocca, Candace 0-1-0; Totals 60-5-9.0. (Assists) - Senn, Sara 28; LaRocca, Candace 26. (Dig leaders) - Trippany, Melissa 21; Senn, Sara 16; LaRocca, Candace 14; Sorensen, Kerri 10; Ferry, Ashley 9.

Site: Greenwood, S.C. (Horne Arena)
Date: Sep 19, 2007   Attend: 127   Time: 2:05