SAVANNAH, Ga. – A stout front row defense knocking down 13 blocks coupled with Leah Rodgers recording a team-high 13 terminations to lead the Pacer attack helped lift the fourth-seeded University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team over the fifth-seeded Lander Bearcats 3-1 in the opening round of the 2010 Peach Belt Conference Volleyball Tournament Friday afternoon in Armstrong Atlantic State's Alumni Arena.

With their first round win, the Pacers are now an even 15-15 for the 2010 campaign. They are now 25-17 all-time in PBC tournament play.

The loss to USC Aiken drops the Bearcats' to 11-16 overall to end their season. They are now 2-13 all-time in the history of the PBC tournament.

USC Aiken took early control of the match claiming the first two sets 25-20 and 25-22 but stumbled in the third set as Lander was able to edge out the Pacers 25-23 to send the match to a fourth set. USC Aiken kept it close in the fourth set, but were able to hold on for the 25-22 win to keep their season alive into the semifinal round.

Six Pacers recorded multiple kills as Rodgers (Longwood, Fla./Lake Mary) led USC Aiken with her 13 kills adding five digs. Sophomore Shannon Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) recorded her 13th double-double of the year and was not far behind Rodgers with 11 terminations of her own, adding 13 digs.

Ashley Farwell (Wake Forest, N.C./Wake Forest Rolesville) set up a team-high 27 assists while Samantha Lukralle (Lindnehurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) continued to add to her season record with 19 digs.

Lander was led by Melissa McCracken recorded a double-double tallying a match-high 16 kills along with 15 digs while teammates Magi Nottingham and Hannah Dederick chipped in 15 and 14 terminations respectively.  Candace LaRocca had a match-high 45 assists and 14 digs to record a double-double of her own.

USC Aiken was able to keep Lander to below .200 in three of the four matches while hitting .197 overall.

USC Aiken will advance on to the Saturday semifinal round where they will square off the No. 1 Saints of regular season champions Flagler College Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m.