AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team registered a 3-1 victory over Columbus State Saturday afternoon. Set scores were 25-17, 21-25, 25-20 and 25-16.

The Pacers are now 19-6 overall, including an 11-4 mark against Peach Belt Conference competition.

Leading the way for USC Aiken was Ashley Diedrich, who led everyone with 18 kills. She added 13 digs and five blocks. Taylor Stratton notched 13 kills to go along with three block assists. Aly Johnson accounted for nine kills and seven total blocks. Julia Forster contributed eight kills to go along with three digs and two blocks.

Sheila Walsh led everyone with 47 assists. She added 11 digs and two aces in her double-double performance.

Defensively, Monica Cardona accounted for a match-high 27 digs. Katie Toman posted 11 digs while Shawn Hotson tallied 10.

As a team, USC Aiken tallied a .223 attack percentage. The Pacers combined for 20 total blocks, including a solo stuff by Johnson.

In the first set, head coach Glenn Cox's team slammed home a .229 attack percentage while limiting the visitors to a .000 percentage. USC Aiken opened up a 3-0 lead thanks in part to a couple of kills from Diedrich and an ace by Walsh. The Cougars pulled within one at 3-2, but the Pacers embarked on an 11-1 spurt. During the run, Columbus State committed two errors to get things going. Diedrich hammered home a kill for an 8-3 lead. After another miscue by the visitors, a time-out was called. After the time-out, Aly Johnson found the court for a kill. Back-to-back blocks by the Pacers pushed the score to 12-3.

USC Aiken continued to maintain a large lead throughout the set as the team never allowed the visitors within six. A service error by Erika Gelzinyte made the score 24-17 and Stratton calmly ended the set with a powerful slam over a block for the 25-17 victory.

In the second frame, Columbus State maintained an edge throughout the entire frame. The Pacers could only pull even with the visitors twice – and both came within the first six points. Despite trailing by as many as six at 16-10, Cox's group pulled together. The team trimmed the deficit to just two at 21-19 on Johnson's kill. However, the Cougars struck with a kill of their own. Stratton's kill pulled the squad within two at 22-20, but the Pacers could pull no closer in the 25-21 loss.

After intermission, the Pacers managed to take the third set. The score was tied twice, but both times it was in the early going. Tied at 2-2, USC Aiken embarked on an 8-0 run, leaving no doubt in the set. During the run, Diedrich hammered home a kill and Johnson was in on a pair of blocks. Julia Forster had a kill and was in on a block as well.

Columbus State pulled within four at 22-18, but Johnson smashed a pass from Walsh for a 23-18 advantage. Tierney had the last two points of the set for the Pacers.

USC Aiken continued with the momentum gained from the third set in the fourth frame. The squad jumped out to a 5-1 advantage behind kills from Diedrich, Forster and another by Diedrich. The Cougars fought back, tying the contest at 8-8. However, Cox's squad went on a 6-0 spurt. During the run, Tierney, Diedrich and Stratton all had kills.

From that point forward, USC Aiken did not allow the visitors to get back into the contest. The Pacers pushed the lead to double digits at 23-13, but the Cougars started to claw their way back into the set. However, Walsh took a pass from Diedrich and ended the match with a beautifully-played kill.

During the match, Walsh moved into fourth place on the USC Aiken career assist list while Tierney recorded her 300th career block. 

The Pacers return to action Tuesday night against Lander. The match has been pushed up to a 6 p.m. start, due to the men's soccer PBC Tournament home match that starts at 7 p.m.