AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team earned a split at the GRU Augusta Tri-Match Saturday afternoon. The Pacers lost to the Jaguars 3-1 before rebounding for a sweep of Claflin.

In the match against the Jaguars, set scores were 28-26, 22-25, 21-25 and 24-26. Against Claflin, set scores were 28-26, 25-16 and 25-17.

In the opener, Ashley Diedrich led the way with a team-best 12 kills while Hannah Tierney and Taylor Stratton added 11 and 10, respectively. Sheila Walsh dished out a match-best 41 assists to go along with 13 digs for a double-double.

At the net, Diedrich and Tierney each posted a solo block and four block assists. Defensively, Diedrich and Katie Toman shared team-high honors with 17 digs apiece. Shawn Hotson added 11 in the contest.

Against the Jaguars, USC Aiken jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind kills from Stratton and Tierney, but trailed 5-2 before getting into a rhythm in the first set. Head coach Glenn Cox's team tied the match at 6-6 on a kill by Diedrich. The squads traded points for much of the first set as the largest lead by either team was four – and that was by GRU Augusta.

Trailing 21-17, Diedrich and Aly Johnson combined for a block, giving momentum back to the Pacers. Back-to-back errors by the Jaguars brought USC Aiken to within one at 21-20. The home team widened the gap to 24-21, but Cox's team would not give up. A kill by Walsh and Stratton forced a time-out. An attack error tied the set at 24. The squads traded the next four points, but Tierney's kill gave the Pacers the lead for good. An attack error by GRU Augusta the 28-26 victory.

However, it turned out that it was the lone set the squad would win in the match. The squad would play close in the next three, but errors allowed the home team to edge USC Aiken in each set. For the match, Cox's team committed 28 attack errors and had 13 service miscues.   

Against Claflin, Stratton led the way with a team-best 10 kills while hitting .600. Diedrich posted eight kills while Hotson and Johnson added six apiece. Amanda Bologna distributed a match-high 22 assists while Lauren Howard accounted for 11.

Danielle Mercer was solid at the service line, registering seven aces. Howard and Hotson also had one apiece.

Defensively, Mercer led the way with 18 digs. Hotson notched seven as 10 Pacers had at least one dig. At the net, Johnson and Hotson each had five block assists. USC Aiken dominated the net, recording a solo block and 12 block assists in the victory.

The Pacers return to action Friday evening when they host Montevallo at 6 p.m.