Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team lost a hard fought 3-1 decision to Flagler Tuesday evening in the Peach Belt Conference quarterfinals. Set scores were 22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 24-26.

The Pacers are now 21-8 on the season and will await the NCAA Selection Show to see if they advance to the NCAA Tournament Sunday night at 10 p.m.

Ashley Diedrich led everyone with a match-high 19 kills to go along with 10 digs. Taylor Stratton totaled 12 kills while Julia Foster hit for 11. Sheila Walsh dished out a match-best 44 assists and tallied 15 digs.

Monica Cardona led the way with a match-best 23 digs. Danielle Mercer accounted for 17 while Shawn Hotson chipped in seven.

At the net, Hannah Tierney registered eight total blocks, including one of a solo variety. Diedrich was also in on seven stuffs.

After falling behind in the early going of the first set, USC Aiken pushed out to a three-point lead at 12-9 on a kill by Diedrich. However, a service error gave the ball to the Saints. Head coach Glenn Cox's team maintained an advantage at 15-13, but a 6-0 run by the visitors gave them the lead at 19-15. USC Aiken found itself trailing by as many as five, but fought back within two on a block by Diedrich and Tierney, making it 24-22. However, a kill by the Saints ended the first set at 25-22.

The teams battled back-and-forth in the second frame and the Pacers took a one-point lead at 14-13 when a trio of Pacers blocked Sara Davis. However, Flagler embarked on a 4-0 run and eventually pushed the margin to six at 22-16. USC Aiken was unable to get any closer in the 25-17 loss.

In the third frame, Cox's squad jumped out to a 10-6 lead on back-to-back attack errors by Flagler. Although the Saints pulled within two at 13-11, the Pacers maintained the lead. With the score at 16-15, USC Aiken went on a 6-1 run to essentially put the set away. However, Flagler pulled within four at 24-20, but Tierney's kill ended the set with the 25-23 win.

Despite having the momentum to start the fourth set, USC Aiken found itself trailing 9-1 before going on an 11-3 spurt, knotting the contest at 12 apiece. During the run, Diedrich, Johnson and Tierney all had blocks. Tierney added an ace as did Stratton, Diedrich and Walsh. The Pacers tied it when Stratton and Tierney combined to block Ashley Cheewah.

USC Aiken took the lead by two at 14-12 on an attack error, but the Saints fought back. The Pacers trailed 23-21, but Diedrich had a pair of kills and Forster added one, tying the contest at 24. However, the Pacers were unable to net any more points in the 26-24 loss.