Box Score

AIKEN, S.C. - Behind four players with double-digit kills and a strong resiliency from a young squad, the University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team acquired a huge 3-2 five-match Peach Belt Conference victory over Flagler before 367 fans on Pacer Pride night on Friday evening at the Convocation Center.

The Pacers bested the team picked to finish second in the PBC by the league's head coaches prior to the 2009 campaign by erasing two one-game deficits in the match. Flagler earned a 25-18 victory in the first game before USC Aiken rallied for a 25-23 victory in the second game. The Pacers would allow the Saints a 25-22 win in game three before USC Aiken earned another two-point 25-23 victory in game four.

USC Aiken let Flagler earn an early 3-0 lead in the fifth and final game before putting things together to go up by as many as four points in the deciding game. USC Aiken would eventually settle on a three-point 15-12 win in game five.

The win improves the young, but dangerous Pacers to an impressive 9-4 in the 2009 campaign. The victory over new league member Flagler on Friday earned USC Aiken its first league win of the year to leave them 1-1 on the season in the PBC entering an important match against league favorite Armstrong Atlantic State at 3 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) at the Convocation Center.

USC Aiken has won six of its last seven matches this year entering the match against former head coach Will Condon and the Pirates on Saturday afternoon.

The underclassmen tandem of Shannon Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) and Chelsey Kight (Charleston, S.C./West Ashley) led the Pacers in the match with 13 kills each. Byers also collected 10 digs in the match for her second consecutive double-double as she also had a double-double in USC Aiken's 3-2 loss to Lander on Wednesday.

Fellow underclassmen Jessica Loper (McDonough, Ga./Eagles Landing Christian) and Lindsay Mortenson (Aliso Viejo, Cali./Santa Margartia Catholic) were not too far behind the duo at 13 with 10 kills each. Loper also recorded a game-high five blocks, which included three solo blocks.

Senior setter Lauren Cedeno (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) paced the USC Aiken attack in the match, acquiring a season-high 44 assists to mark her third 35 or more assist match in the 2009 campaign. Cedeno also obtained 13 digs and one kill in the win over Flagler.

Freshmen Samantha Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) and KD Almaraz (Ventura, Calif./Saint Bonaventure) both also had double-digit digs in the match. Lukralle ended the match 15, while Almaraz concluded her evening with 12.

Flagler was guided by two with 12 kills each in their loss to the Pacers with Justine Burkhardt and Katie Beale both acquiring 12 kills. Meg Weathersby ended the match with 11 for the Saints.