SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team's run for a national title came up short with a loss in the Elite Eight to Palm Beach Atlantic by a 3-0 score.

The Pacers conclude the season at 31-5.

Leading the way for USC Aiken was Taylor Stratton with a match-high 13 kills. Christine Carroll tallied eight kills while Shawn Hotson and Julia Forster accounted for seven apiece. Kassy Johannsen registered four kills in six attempts for a .667 attack percentage. She also added a pair of blocks.

Stratton accounted for a double-double by posting 11 digs. Emily Teelon tallied 34 assists, eight digs and five blocks while hitting .400.

Defensively, Danielle Mercer recorded a 16-dig performance, moving her into sole possession in PBC single-season lure with 35 double-digit dig performances. Rebecca Martinez tallied 13 digs.

In the opening frame, head coach Glenn Cox's team jumped on top after an attack error by the Sailfish to make it 1-0. The designated home team took a slight lead, but a kill from Stratton off a pass from Martinez evened the contest at 9-9. PBA regained the advantage momentarily, taking a 20-15 lead before Forster and Stratton answered with back-to-back kills.

A block from Johannsen and Stratton made it 20-18 before Johannsen slammed home a kill to push the score to 20-19. A few plays later, USC Aiken tied it off an attack error by the Sailfish at 22-22. However, the Pacers dropped the set 25-23.

Cox's team trailed 12-6 in the second stanza before Carroll notched back-to-back kills. PBA would maintain a seven-point lead at 24-17, but Teelon's flip over the net started a comeback. Shawn Hotson hammered home an overpass before Stratton befuddled the defense with a kill. Hotson and Stratton went for back-to-back points, but PBA managed to rally for a 25-22 victory.

USC Aiken fell behind 7-1 in what turned out to be the final set before trading the next 12 points with the Sailfish. During the next little bit, Johannsen plastered the court with a kill before Martinez served up an ace to make it 10-5. A Stratton kill and an ace by Johannsen pulled the Pacers within four at 11-7, but PBA responded with two quick points forcing a time-out.

Cox's team once again made it a three-point set off an attack error by the Sailfish, but USC Aiken could get no closer the rest of the way. Despite the 25-20 loss, the Pacers played the 2015 national runner-up extremely close the entire match.

The contest marked the last time that Brittany Faulkner, Shawn Hotson, Kassy Johannsen, Danielle Mercer and Taylor Stratton.