PEMBROKE, N.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team recorded a 3-1 victory at UNC Pembroke Wednesday evening in a Peach Belt Conference contest.

The Pacers improve to 25-3 overall and 14-2 against conference competition. The Braves fall to 3-27 overall and 0-16 against league foes.

Kassy Johannsen led everyone with a match-high 14 kills. She did not commit an error while pounding out a .583 attack percentage. Shawn Hotson and Taylor Stratton notched 11 kills apiece while Julia Forster had nine kills with just one error for a .296 hitting percentage.

Emily Teelon dished out 31 assists while Lauren Howard accounted for 13.

Danielle Mercer led the defense with 18 digs while Stratton had 10 for a double-double. Johannsen led the squad with three total blocks at the net.

Head coach Glenn Cox's team jumped out to a fast start in the opening frame. Tied at 6-6, USC Aiken went on an 11-0 spurt to put the set away. Teelon started the run with a kill. After an error by the home squad, Stratton slammed home back-to-back kills before Johannsen's point forced a time-out. After the break, Stratton, Shawn Hotson and Johannsen registered back-to-back-to-back kills. Johannsen and Stratton combined for a kill prior to another kill from Johannsen for the 16-6 advantage. Another error by the Braves made it 17-6.

USC Aiken essentially traded points the rest of the way before Forster hammered home a pass from Howard for the 25-13 win.

The second frame was a bit closer than the opening stanza. It was once again tied at 6-6 before the Pacers embarked on a 5-0 run, with multiple points coming via errors by the Braves. USC Aiken managed to hold a 24-19 advantage after Avery Macklin turned and fired a kill in the middle of the court, but UNC Pembroke managed to knot the score at 24-24. However, a service ace by the home team made it 25-24 in favor of the Pacers. On the side-out, Hotson dropped back to serve and promptly registered an ace, finishing the frame with the two-point win.

Although USC Aiken jumped out to a 6-1 lead I the third stanza, the Braves fought back to tie it before the midway point. The Pacers fell behind 22-18 before Christine Carroll posted a kill. However, Cox's team could not get any closer than two points, falling 25-22.

Despite falling in the third frame, USC Aiken quickly rebounded in the fourth set with a 10-4 lead. However, UNCP battled back, pulling within two at 16-14 before Hotson recorded a kill. The Pacers slowly increased their lead. With the score at 22-18, Johannsen, Stratton and Hotson fired back-to-back-to-back points for the seven-point victory.

The Pacers return to action Friday when they host Georgia College at 7 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.