Box Score NEWBERRY, S.C. – The University of South Carolina volleyball team used a superb effort in the fifth set en route to a 3-2 victory at Newberry Saturday afternoon at the Newberry Invitational. Game scores were 32-30, 25-21, 25-27, 15-25 and 15-12.
The Pacers are now 2-1 on the season.
Several student-athletes had outstanding matches for head coach
Glenn Cox in the win.
Ashley Diedrich tallied a double-double with a match-high 20 kills and 19 digs to go along with four block assists while
Hannah Tierney reached double figures with 11 kills. She also chipped in five total blocks.
Sheila Walsh notched a double-double with a match-best 39 assists and 23 digs while adding a block assists. The back-line was outstanding for Cox as the squad registered five players in double figures with digs. In addition to Walsh and Diedrich,
Monica Cardona and
Katie Toman each had 18 while
Shawn Hotson totaled 12.
The Pacers had one solo block and 14 block assists. Behind the service line, the team amassed seven aces. Diedrich led everyone with three aces while Tierney and Toman each found the court twice.
USC Aiken found itself in a battle from the start. The first set was back-and-forth, but the Pacers trailed 19-15. However, a service error swung the momentum back in Cox's team's favor. The team rattled off three straight points, making it 19-18. USC Aiken tied it at 20 when Diedrich and Tierney stuffed the Wolves' attack.
The Pacers had set point at 24-23, but an attack error tied the contest at 24. Neither team could stretch the lead to two points. Trailing 30-29, Tierney tied the set with a kill. Two straight errors by the home squad gave the Pacers the 32-30 win.
After allowing the Wolves to score the first point in the second frame, Cox's team took control, building a 15-3 lead thanks in part to an 8-0 run with the score at 7-3. During the spurt,
Aly Johnson had a kill and Diedrich recorded two aces while the other points came off miscues.
Although Newberry trimmed the margin to three on multiple occasions, the Pacers maintained their composure for the 25-21 win.
USC Aiken nearly closed out the match with a win in the third set, but the Wolves managed to pull out the victory 27-25. In the set, USC Aiken trailed by six before rallying to take the lead at 24-23 on a block by Tierney and
Julia Forster. An attack error tied the set. With the score tied at 25, USC Aiken committed back-to-back errors, which allowed Newberry to take the set.
The Pacers dropped the fourth frame 25-15, but came back in the fifth set determined to win.
USC Aiken snagged a 2-0 lead as Diedrich and Tierney blocked an attack. Tied at three, the Pacers went on a 3-0 run behind kills from Diedrich and Forster and an ace from Tierney.
Newberry would pull within two at 7-5 and 11-9. However,
Taylor Stratton slammed home a kill and Tierney registered a solo block for a 13-9 edge. Tierney and Diedrich posted the last two points that USC Aiken needed in the 15-12 win.
The Pacers return to action at 7 p.m., when they face King in the final match of the invitational.
