AIKEN, S.C. – Two long 28-26 set wins kept the University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team close to the Eagles of Division III No. 3 Emory University; however, the Pacers just fell short in the five-set match as the Eagles claimed victory 3-2 in non-conference action Thursday night at the Convocation Center.

Emory took the first and third sets 25-18 over the Pacers while USC Aiken worked hard to keep the match close with two 28-26 victories in the second and fourth set before the Eagles capped the match with a 15-6 victory in the fifth set.

The Pacers are now 7-11 overall while the nationally-ranked Eagles improve to 17-2 for the year.

Once again, it was sophomore power hitter Shannon Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) who led the Pacer attack as she recorded her seventh double-double of the season and second in as many days. Byers led all players in the match with an impressive 19 kills while also helping on defense by recording 15 digs. Senior Megan Disney (Knoxville, Tenn./Karns) and junior Chelsey Kight (Charleston, S.C./West Ashley) both recorded seven kills a piece in the match while Disney led the Pacers' defensive front row efforts with six total blocks.

Three Eagles recorded double-doubles in the match as Amelia McCall knocked down 18 kills and a match second-best 21 digs and Jessica McAlvany recorded 12 kills and 11 digs. Natalie Schonefeld had an impressive 53 assists to go along with 16 digs.

Despite the loss, USC Aiken was able to keep the Eagles close in hitting percentage as Emory barely out hit the Pacers .197-.101 but the Pacer front row proved to be twice as strong as Emory's recording 10 blocks to Emory's five.

USC Aiken will now take off and rest for about a week before they hit the road for a season-high three-match road trek that includes two Peach Belt Conference road tilts. The Pacers will first travel down Interstate 20 to Florence, S.C. to take on in-state rivals Francis Marion on Friday, Oct. 15 before heading up to the Tar Heel state to take on PBC foe UNC Pembroke and Elizabeth City State in Pembroke, N.C. on Saturday, Oct. 16.