Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team registered a 3-0 shutout against Lander Wednesday evening.
The Pacers improve to 18-3 on the season, including a 7-3 mark against league foes.
Leading the way for USC Aiken was Taylor Stratton, who pounded home a match-high 13 kills. Julia Forster chipped in nine while Ashley Diedrich, Alicia Hines and Aly Johnson all notched seven. Hines led everyone with a .400 attack percentage.
Emily Teelon dished out a match-best 23 assists while Lauren Howard recorded her first career double-double as she posted 18 assists and 10 digs.
Defensively, Katie Toman registered a match-high 26 digs, tying the school record for digs in a three-set match. Shawn Hotson had a solid match, contributing 15 digs while keeping several rallies alive.
The 84 digs as a team is the second best mark in school history for a three-set match. The 52 kills marked the 10th-best effort in school history in a three-set match.
The first set was a back-and-forth affair and the Bearcats held a 24-21 advantage. However, Hines took a pass from Howard for a kill. Stratton slammed home a pass from Toman, making it 24-23. Hotson's ace tied the set before Stratton gave the team a one-point edge with a kill. An attack error by Lander allowed the Pacers to claim the first set 26-24.
USC Aiken jumped out to a 23-12 lead in the second frame. However, the Bearcats cut into the margin, making it 23-17. The teams traded points before the visitors went on a 4-0 spurt, making it 24-22. However, head coach Glenn Cox's team finished the set off as Stratton powered home a pass from Howard for the 25-22 victory.
The third set was tightly contested as well. Lander led 19-17, but the Pacers answered with a 5-0 spurt. Hines started the rally with a kill. Ashley Lind and Johnson recorded a block, tying it at 19-19. Lind's kill gave USC Aiken a lead it would not relinquish. An attack error and a block by Johnson pushed the score to 22-19.
After multiple long rallies, Cox's team clinched the match when a Bearcat attempt sailed long for the 25-22 victory.
The Pacers return to action Friday when they travel to Georgia College for a 7 p.m., match. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
