Box Score

GREENWOOD, S.C. - The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team opened its 2009 Peach Belt Conference campaign with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Lander at Horne Arena.

The match was about as even as it could get. Lander won game one 25-21 before the Pacers pulled even with a 25-18 victory in game two. Lander earned a 25-16 win in game three that gave way to a 25-20 Pacer win in game four.

The first few points of the fifth and final game were extremely close, but the homestanding Bearcats eventually pulled away for a 15-10 win in game five that earned the 3-2 match victory.

The Pacers were led in the loss to Lander by three players with double-digit kills. Chelsey Kight (Charleston, S.C./West Ashley) led the way with 13 kills. Shannon Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) was not too far behind with 12 kills, while Jessica Loper (McDonough, Ga./Eagles Landing Christian) ended her evening with 11 kills. Loper also had three blocks in the match.

Pacer libero Samantha Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) led the Pacers with 20 digs. Byers chipped in with 19 of her own to finish her evening with 12 kills and 19 digs. She also had one service ace.

Lauren Cedeno (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) and Whitney Tabbert (Stewardson, Ill./Stewardson-Strasburg) both recorded 19 assists in the loss for the Pacers.

Lander's Melissa McCracken led all players in the match with 16 kills on an astonishing 58 total attacks on the evening. McCracken also acquired 18 digs to finish just behind teammate Chelsey Corgan for the team lead in the category.

Candace LoRocca obtained 40 assists for the Bearcats on Wednesday evening.

The loss to the Bearcats snapped a five-match winning streak for the Pacers. USC Aiken is now 8-4 on the 2009 season overall and 0-1 in the PBC. Lander improved to 8-2 overall (1-0 PBC) with the match win over the Pacers.

The loss to Lander on Wednesday was a rarity as USC Aiken has won 10 of the last 13 matches between the two and holds a 19-5 advantage all-time over the Bearcats.

USC Aiken will next host its first PBC home regular season match of the year at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 against new PBC member Flagler. USC Aiken will once again host a league match just one day later against Armstrong Atlantic State at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.