GREENWOOD, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team stumbled just a bit against in-state rival Lander University and were unable to regain their stride, dropping a key Peach Belt Conference match 3-0 against the Bearcats at Horne Arena in PBC action Wednesday night.

Lander claimed a marathon 30-28 in the first set and then took the second set 25-19 before they capped the match with a 26-24 victory over USC Aiken.

The Pacers now find themselves 7-10 overall and are an even 4-4 in PBC play while Lander improves to 8-7 overall and 2-5 in league action.

Sophomore Shannon Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) continued to lead the Pacer offensive recording her sixth double-double of the 2010 campaign capped by 13 kills and 10 digs. Freshman Leah Rodgers (Longwood, Fla./Lake Mary) recorded six kills of her own along with two blocks while six other Pacers recorded multiple kills in the contest.

Lander's Lindsey Everhart led all players with 18 kills in the three-set match while Melissa McCracken and Candace LaRocca recorded a double-double each. McCracken knocked down 10 kills to go with12 digs while LaRocca had a match-high 40 assists and 13 digs.

Despite the loss, USC Aiken was able to record two more blocks than Lander 6-4, but the Bearcats' hitting percentage of .276 was just barely better than the Pacers' .149.

USC Aiken will return home for their second match in as many days when the Eagles of Division III power Emory come calling at the Convocation Center tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 7. The non-conference tilt is slated to get under way at 7 p.m.