Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 FLORENCE, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team split a pair of matches Saturday, falling at Francis Marion 3-1 before downing St. Augustine's 3-0.
In the loss, set scores were 22-25, 23-25, 27-25 and 15-25. For the win, scores were 25-11, 25-18 and 25-20.
The Pacers now stand at 15-8 on the season.
Against the Patriots, the Pacers were led by
Ashley Diedrich and Aly Johnson with nine kills apiece.
Endea Ellison and
Taylor Stratton chipped in six kills apiece while
Ashley Lind had five.
Sheila Walsh distributed 18 assists to go along with 10 digs while
Amanda Bologna dished out 16 assists.
Defensively,
Danielle Mercer totaled a team-best 17 digs while
Shawn Hotson accounted for nine. Ellison had a huge match at the net, blocking five shots, including a solo stuff. Diedrich had four blocks, including one that was by herself.
In the opening set, head coach
Glenn Cox's team held a 13-5 lead thanks in part to the stellar serving by Walsh and
Katie Toman. During the 7-1 spurt to take the eight-point edge, Diedrich and Rogers each had a kill while
Hannah Tierney and Diecrich combined for a block. Toman completed the spurt with an ace.
However, FMU fought back, tying the contest at 19 before the home team reeled off six of the last nine points to secure the set.
In the second frame, the teams were tied at 17, but an error by USC Aiken gave the Patriots a lead they would not relinquish. Diedrich's kill pulled the team within one at 24-23, but FMU notched the last point of the stanza.
Head coach
Glenn Cox's team broke through in the third set with a 27-25 victory. The Pacers once again jumped out to a huge lead as Diedrich and Ellison had kills and several miscues by the Patriots pushed the score to 13-5 in favor of the Pacers.
After FMU took a two-point lead at 18-16, USC Aiken called time-out and quickly responded, knotting the contest at 19 on Ellison's kill. The teams traded points until the Patriots took a 24-23 lead on an error. The Pacers rattled off back-to-back points on a kill by Bologna and an ace by Hotson to take a 25-24 lead.
FMU tied it at 25, but a service error gave the ball back to USC Aiken with a one-point edge.
Taylor Stratton hammered home the winning point of the set, forcing a fourth frame.
Despite the solid win in the third set, Cox's team was unable to force a fifth set, falling 25-15.
Playing a second match just minutes after the loss, USC Aiken swept the Falcons. The Pacers hit .284 while holding the designated visitors to a -.013 attack percentage.
Lind led everyone with seven kills and three aces. Diedrich and Johnson each accounted for six. Ellison and Stratton each had five.
Bologna dished out 18 assists to go along with seven digs and two aces while Walsh had 13 assists.
Monica Cardona led everyone with 11 digs. Stratton had the lone solo block for the victors.
USC Aiken registered a .444 attack percentage in the first set, totaling 13 kills against just one error.
The squad made quick work of the Falcons, winning in just 63 minutes.
The Pacers return home Wednesday evening when the squad hosts Georgia College in a 7 p.m. match.
