Box Score

PEMBROKE, N.C. - Despite 20 kills from Shannon Byers, the USC Aiken volleyball team lost its second match in as many days with a 3-2 five-game match loss to Peach Belt Conference rival UNC Pembroke on Saturday afternoon at the English E. Jones Center.

Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) had one of the best matches of her young career on Saturday, ending the match with a stellar .366 hitting percentage to go along with the 20 kills. She also acquired 11 digs in the match to end the match with a double-double.

Susan MacClary (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) was the only other Pacer with double-digit kills, collecting 11 in the match. She also had seven digs.

Pacer libero Samantha Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) led the Pacers in digs with 32, while Lauren Cedeno (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) finished her efforts with 12 digs and 38 assists. She had two service aces to tie Byers for the team lead in the category in the match.

Jessica Hartley was the only UNC Pembroke with double-digit kills with 12. Sam Wylie and Whitney Hanlin led the Braves in assists with 17 and 16, respectively. Andrea Laza concluded UNCP's win with 14 digs.

The Pacers opened the loss to UNC Pembroke by taking an easy 25-18 victory in game one. The Braves responded by rattling off to a 25-17 victory in game two to even the match at 1-1. USC Aiken would then look to have everything in their favor in the third set with a dominating 25-14 win. UNCP would earn a 25-16 win in game four and a three-point 15-12 win in game five to secure the match.

The Pacers with the loss are 2-3 in PBC play in 2009. USC Aiken is 10-6 overall. UNC Pembroke improved to 7-8 overall and 1-2 in the PBC with its victory on Saturday.

The Pacers will next travel to Wingate, N.C. to face off against South Atlantic Conference power Wingate at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29.