AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team registered a 3-0 victory over Francis Marion in a Peach Belt Conference contest.

The Pacers are now 9-1 overall and 2-0 against league foes. The Patriots are 6-4 overall and fall to 0-2 in the conference.

Julia Forster led everyone with a match-best 17 kills while posting 18 digs. Teammate Emily Teelon also notched a double-double with 39 assists and 10 digs.

Taylor Stratton had nine kills while Shawn Hotson chipped in five. Christine Carroll and Kassy Johannsen totaled four kills apiece while Alicia Hines added one.

Danielle Mercer led everyone with 25 digs. Hotson and Rebecca Martinez totaled 12 apiece.

The 25 digs for Mercer are the fourth most in a three-set match in school history. The 17 for Forster kills are the sixth most in a three-set match in the program's history.

Combined, the team had 80 digs, which marked the fourth most in a three-set match in school history.

USC Aiken trailed 8-4 in the opening frame before Forster had two kills while Teelon added one en route to a 10-9 lead. It was 17-16 in favor of the home team before back-to-back errors by the visitors made it 19-16.

The Pacers extended a 21-18 lead to 24-18 behind kills from Teelon and Stratton. Hines finished off the first set with a slam.

After being tied at 12-12 in the second frame, Martinez dropped to the service line and fired up an ace. Hotson and Forster each posted kills before an attack error on FMU forced a time-out. Out of the break, the Patriots committed three more errors as the Pacers cruised to a 25-17 win.

Head coach Glenn Cox's team trailed 17-11 in the third set before Hotson slammed home a pass from Teelon. A miscue by the Patriots and an ace by Martinez made it 17-14.

Trailing 20-17, an error by FMU pulled the Pacers within two at 20-18. Stratton made it closer with a kill. Then, Carroll rocketed home back-to-back kills for a 21-20 advantage. Forster, Stratton and Carroll all had kills to make it 24-20. After a point by FMU, Stratton finished the match with a powerful kill.  

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they travel to rival Augusta for a 7 p.m., match. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.