AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team opened play in the USC Aiken Volleyball Invitational at the Convocation Center by dropping a heartbreakingly close conference match to the University of Montevallo.

The Pacers (2-3, 0-1 PBC) and Falcons (1-4, 1-0 PBC) traded the lead back and forth in all five sets with the Falcons claiming the first two sets 25-22 and 25-21 before USC Aiken broke through and dominated the third and fourth sets 25-19 and 25-13. The Pacers appeared to be in control of the match heading into the fifth set before the Falcons found new life and took the final set 15-11 to claim their first victory of both the regular season and conference play.

Sophomore Shannon Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) claimed her second double-double of the season recording a team-high 14 kills along with 11 digs. Senior Megan Disney (Knoxville, Tenn./Karns) and freshman Emily Maassen (Ellisville, Mo./Marquette) both recorded double-digit kills with 10.

Junior Jessica Loper (McDonough, Ga./Eagles Landing) led all players with seven total blocks while sophomore libero Samantha Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) led all players in the match with 29 digs.

Rebecca Dowd recorded a double-double and led all players in the match with 21 total kills to go with her 25 digs while Taylor Chapman recorded 15 kills. Anna Garrison recorded an astounding 53 assists in the match to lead all players.

The teams were fairly evenly matched with the Pacers just out-hitting the Falcons .174-.144. USC Aiken recorded 17 total blocks over the five-set match compared to Montevallo's 11.

USC Aiken will next take on the Trojans of Anderson University in the 7 p.m. night-cap match on the main arena floor tonight.