AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team swept a pair of South Atlantic Conference foes Friday, downing Mars Hill and Carson-Newman.

The Pacers improve to 13-3 on the season.

In the opener, USC Aiken handled Mars Hill by scores of 25-23, 25-16 and 25-19.

Ashley Diedrich led everyone with nine kills. Julia Forster and Taylor Stratton totaled eight kills apiece while Alicia Hines chipped in seven. Stratton hit a match-high .462.

All three setters reached double digits in assists, with Lauren Howard distributing 13 while Emily Teelon and Chelsey Watts added 12 and 10, respectively.

Defensively, Monica Cardona paced the team with 25 digs, which is the third most in USC Aiken history in a three-set match. It also marked her 1,000th career dig at USC Aiken. At the net, Diedrich posted a solo block and a block assist.

Collectively, the team hit .299 with 43 kills against 14 errors in 97 attempts.

Head coach Glenn Cox's team jumped out to a 4-0 lead behind a pair of kills from Stratton. Aly Johnson and Diedrich each had a kill in the spurt. The Pacers opened up an 11-5 lead off a kill by Ashley Lind, but MHC fought back, tying the score at 12-12.

USC Aiken embarked on a 5-1 run as Johnson and Stratton had kills, but the visitors managed to take a 20-18 lead.

After a time-out by Cox, the squad went on a 7-3 run to finish off the set. Tied at 23, Hines took a pass from Howard for a kill prior to Stratton ending the match with a kill.

In the second frame, MHC led 7-6, but Hines answered the call with a kill. That sparked a run by the Pacers, who took an 18-10 lead after back-to-back errors by the Lions. USC Aiken closed out the set off a pair of kills from Lind.

The third set was close in the early going, but Johnson's kill sparked the team to a 6-0 run that made it 18-11. During the spurt, Diedrich rattled off a pair of kills while Stratton had one.

USC Aiken cruised to the six-point win as Hines registered a kill for a 24-19 lead before dropping back to serve up an ace for the match.

In the nightcap, the Pacers won by scores of 25-14, 25-21 and 25-19.

USC Aiken was led by Diedrich's match-high 13 kills. Stratton added 10 while Forster and Hines added nine and eight, respectively.

Teelon led the team with 25 assists while Howard chipped in 15.

Defensively, Cardona led everyone with 17 digs while Teelon garnered a double-double with 13 digs. Hines was outstanding at the net, registering seven total blocks while Forster and Diedrich added four and three, respectively.

Cox's team trailed 4-0 in the opening frame before an error put the squad on the board. Trailing 6-3, Diedrich's kill sparked an 8-0 run by the home team. During the spurt, Hines and Forster added kills while Diedrich recorded an ace.

After the Eagles made it 11-7, USC Aiken embarked on another 4-0 spurt for a 15-7 edge after Howard found Lind for a kill. Ahead 18-12, Forster slammed home a pass from Teelon. Two plays later, Forster and Hines blocked a shot prior to Hines registering a kill. Forster and Hines teamed up for another block, giving the squad a 23-12 advantage. Diedrich ended the set with a kill moments later.

The second set was a back-and-forth affair in the early going. Leading 15-13, Johnson registered a kill. Forster and Hines teamed up for another block prior to Diedrich posting back-to-back winners.

The Eagles pulled within two at 20-18, but an error, coupled with an ace by Hotson, allowed the Pacers to cruise to the 25-21 win.

USC Aiken jumped on top of the third frame, gaining a 12-3 lead and never looked back. The squad cruised to the 25-19 victory as Johnson solidified the match with her kill.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they host South Atlantic Conference foes Tusculum (11 a.m.) and Lincoln Memorial (1:30 p.m.). Live stats, video and audio will be available on PacerSports.com.