AIKEN, S.C. – Another long marathon match broke out in the Convocation Center Saturday afternoon that saw the University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team trade the lead back and forth with the visiting NAIA nationally-ranked Eagles of Embry-Riddle before the Eagles were able to just nip out their 16th-straight win in the fifth set to take the match 3-2.

12th-ranked Embry-Riddle was able to just barely snatch the first set from the Pacers 25-23 before USC Aiken came back in dominating fashion to take the second set 25-16. After the intermission, the Eagles once again took the lead in the match with a 25-20 set over the Pacers in the third set.

Embry-Riddle looked to have the match in hand in the fourth set, but USC Aiken fought back hard over several Embry-Riddle match-points. Senior Megan Disney blocked an Eagle attack to break a 27-27 tie and give the Pacers a 28-27 lead just before freshman Emily Maassen finished strong with a stout kill off an Eagle defender to give the set to USC Aiken at 29-27.

The Pacers raced out to a quick lead in the fifth set, but the Eagles were able to come from behind and take the final set and match 15-11.

USC Aiken now drops to 7-9 for the 2010 campaign while Embry-Riddle finds themselves 19-1 on the season.

11 Pacers recorded multiple kills in the contest with Maassen (Ellisville, Mo./Marquette) leading the team with 12 kills and seven block assists. Sophomore Shannon Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) was close behind with eight kills and 16 digs despite a slow start while senior Disney (Knoxville, Tenn./Karns) had six kills and four total blocks.

Sophomore setter Ashley Farwell (Wake Forest, N.C./Wake Forest-Rolesville) recorded her fourth double-double for the afternoon with 22 assists and 20 digs while the back row defense was led by Samantha Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) who recorded a match-high 23 digs.

Embry-Riddle's Abby Hall led all players with 17 kills in the contest to earn the double-double with 14 digs while Jordan Holcomb also recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs.

USC Aiken's .112 hitting percentage was slightly better than the Eagle's .091 and the Pacers also recorded one more block than Embry-Riddle (9-8).

The Pacers will now hit the road and travel to Greenwood, S.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 6 for a Peach Belt Conference road match against in-state rival Lander. The match with the Bearcats is slated to begin at 7 p.m.