AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team posted a 3-1 victory over Armstrong State in the second round of the NCAA Southeast Regional Saturday evening.

The Pacers improve to 30-4 on the year while the Pirates end their season at 26-8.

Julia Forster and Taylor Stratton each accounted for 17 kills and 12 digs in the win. Stratton posted four total blocks while Forster served up a pair of aces.

Christine Carroll came off the bench to hit .385 while slamming down 11 kills. She posted four blocks as well.

Emily Teelon dished out a match-best 51 assists. She contributed six digs, four aces and a pair of kills.

Shawn Hotson totaled eight kills to go along with 16 digs and three block assists.  

Defensively, Danielle Mercer led everyone with 22 digs. Rebecca Martinez added 18.

Head coach Glenn Cox's team trailed 8-4 in the opening frame before Stratton hammered home a kill. Martinez served up an ace prior to an attack error to make it 8-7. Hotson and Teelon posted kills for a 9-8 lead.

Trailing 10-9, Forster slammed home a pair of kills. Two errors by the Pirates made it 13-10. Holding on to a one-point lead, 13-12, Forster sliced the defense for a kill. Back to-back aces by Teelon a kill from Hotson, an error by the Pirates and a point from Hines pushed the score to 19-12. With the score at 21-18, Hotson posted two kills en route to the 25-19 victory.

The second frame was a back-and-forth affair until Carroll chimed in with a kill for an 18-17 edge. Forster came up with a block and a kill prior to Teelon finding the court with an ace for a 21-17 margin.

Although ASU scored two points to make it 24-20, Carroll ended the threat with a thunderous kill.

Cox's team dropped the third stanza, a service error by the Pirates gave USC Aiken the ball and a 1-0 lead. Carroll registered a kill. She and Hotson combined for a block and Stratton's kill forced a time-out. After the break, Stratton and Hotson each had a point for a 6-1 lead.

Leading 12-9, Stratton started a 4-1 spurt by the home team. During the run, Hotson added a kill while she and Kassy Johannsen combined for a block to push the score to 16-10.

With the score at 18-15, Cox's team shut the door with a 7-0 spurt thanks in part to a block party. Johannsen and Stratton started the run with a block. After a kill from Carroll, Stratton stuffed Autumn Mayo for a 21-15 score. Carroll and Teelon combined for a block before Stratton found the court with a kill.

Carroll and Teelon combined for another block of the net before an attack error allowed USC Aiken to advance to the Sweet 16.

The Pacers return to action Sunday when they host Queens in the NCAA Region Championship at 4 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.  

Queens 3, Flagler 2

AIKEN, S.C. – Queens (N.C.) fought off Flagler in an exciting 3-2 match Saturday evening in the second round of the NCAA Southeast Regional.

The Royals were led by Meredith Jones' team-high 18 kills. Jessica Raines notched 10 while Alex Thompson contributed nine kills to go along with seven digs and four blocks.

Megan Mancini paced the victors with 26 digs. Sydney Kunz added a double-double with 49 assists and 17 digs. Rebecca Cochran posted 16 digs while Mallory Swarts and Lexie Dolecheck added 12 and 10, respectively.

In the final set, Queens posted a .320 attack percentage while the Saints hit .231.

Flagler was paced by Sara Davis' 19 kills. Ashley Cheewah and Taja Valmyr notched 15 and 11, respectively. Valmyr added a double-double with 23 digs.

Tara Savisky posted 52 assists and 14 digs while Kayla Norelli tallied a match-best 33 digs.

At the net, Cheewah and Jenea Riddick had seven blocks apiece.

The Royals will play in the NCAA Southeast Region Championship Sunday at 4 p.m.