AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team opened its match with Augusta State on Wednesday by easily winning the first set, but the Pacers would not be able to hold the momentum in the match as Augusta State won the next three sets to take a 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-19) match victory over the Pacers on Tuesday evening at the Convocation Center.

USC Aiken (12-13, 4-5 PBC) controlled the entire opening set en route to a 25-21 victory in the opening game. The Pacers hit .372 as a team in the first game.

The Pacers took an early lead in the second set and looked to be in control of the match, but midway through the second set Augusta State took things over. The Jaguars won game two, 25-18, before earning a 25-17 victory in the third set. USC Aiken battled Augusta State in the fourth set, but the Jaguars would hold off the Pacers for a 25-19 win.

Augusta State (13-14, 5-5 PBC) slugged off a slow start to finish the match hitting .248 as a team. USC Aiken concluded the match hitting .132 as a team.

Two Pacers finished with double-digit kills in the match with Endea Ellison (Orange Park, Fla./Episcopal) leading the way with 12 kills. She also had a team-high five blocks. 

Shannon Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) was the only other Pacer with double-digit kills. Byers claimed another double-double in the match with 18 digs to go along with her 11 kills. 

Alex Petock (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) paced USC Aiken in the match with 21 assists.

USC Aiken libero Samantha Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) ended the match with 15 digs.

Augusta State primary setter Krystin Wahlig led the Jaguars in the match. Wahlig ended the win over the Pacers with a double-double with 42 assists and 11 digs.

Three Jaguars acquired double-digit kills with Jessica Hanson leading the way with 16 kills.

Augusta State libero Collette Richards collected a match-high 27 digs.

USC Aiken will next play host to UNC Pembroke at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Convocation Center.

The Pacers will then close their 2011 home schedule at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 with a match against Francis Marion. USC Aiken's final home match of the year will serve as Senior Day.