AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team (2-4, 0-1 PBC) opened the first day of the USC Aiken Volleyball Invitational at the Convocation Center by dropping two heartbreakingly close matches including one conference match. The Pacers opened their home tournament with an excruciatingly close 2-3 conference loss to the University of Montevallo (2-4, 1-0 PBC) before having victory just out of reach in another 2-3 loss to Anderson University (6-1).

In the first game of the day for USC Aiken, the Pacers and Falcons traded the lead back and forth in all five sets with the Falcons claiming the first two sets 22-25 and 21-25 before USC Aiken broke through and dominated the third and fourth sets 25-19 and 25-13. The USC Aiken appeared to be in control of the match heading into the fifth set before the Falcons found new life and took the final set 11-15 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 in the contest. Senior Megan Disney (Knoxville, Tenn./Karns) and freshman Emily Maassen (Ellisville, Mo./Marquette) both recorded double-digit kills with 10 kills a-piece.

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.

Montevallo's 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.

The Pacers raced out to an early 25-19 victory in the first set with Anderson University in the second game before dropping the second set 21-25. The Pacers gained a 25-18 victory in the third set with a full head of steam, but were unable to keep the pace as the Trojans claimed victory in the fourth and fifth sets 21-25 and 13-15.

Disney and freshman power hitter Leah Rodgers (Longwood, Fla./Lake Mary) both led the attack for USC Aiken with 14 kills each, tying for the most kills in the match. Byers claimed her second double-double of the day her third of the season, with 12 kills and 15 digs over the five-set match.

Alex Petock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) claimed her first double-double of the season serving up 27 assists and corralling in 10 digs. Sophomore Lukralle continued to lead the Pacer back row with 22 digs in the contest while Claire Patten (Boulder, Colo./Mercer) recorded two service aces.

The Trojan's Jamie Lancaster recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 16 digs while Tori Calhoun chipped in 12 kills of her own.

Despite the loss, USC Aiken out-hit the Trojans .268 to .154 and recorded 20 more team kills than Anderson (70-50).

USC Aiken now looks forward to two more games on Saturday, Sept. 11. The Pacers will first square off on the court at high noon against the Flying Fleet of Erskine before closing out the USC Aiken Volleyball Invitational against head coach Glenn Cox's alma mater, Valdosta State, with the last match of the weekend at 4 p.m. on the main arena floor.

Day One Results