AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team overcame an early deficit to post a 3-1 win over Lander Wednesday evening.

The Pacers are now 14-3 on the season, including 4-2 in league play.

Alie Smith led the way with a match-high 14 kills to go along with 16 digs for a double-double. She also served up a match-best three aces. Alisha Pitt and Emily Lammers had nine kills apiece while Cat Bodick accounted for eight. Kayla Duggan tallied six kills while Kaitlyn Rodriguez chipped in three. 

Caroline Foster garnered a double-double with 25 assists and 10 digs while fellow setter Sophie Meredith notched a double-double with 16 assists and 13 digs. 

Defensively, Kari Mercer led everyone with 26 digs. Lily Andrews totaled 12 digs. 

At the net, Pitt and Duggan each had a solo block while Lammers posted three block assists. 

After dropping the first set, head coach Glenn Cox's team trailed 23-21 in the second stanza. However, a miscue by the Bearcats gave the Pacers a side-out. Meredith served up an ace, knotting the score. After a Duggan kill, Lander called for a time-out. However, USC Aiken notched the winning point on an error by the visitors.

Down 15-12 in the third frame, Pitt slammed home a kill. Three straight errors by Lander gave the Pacers a 16-15 edge. After a time-out, Smith served up two aces and a kill from Duggan pushed it to 19-15. USC Aiken would maintain a two point lead at 23-21 before Bodick smashed a kill. Lammers and Pitt combined for a block and a 25-21 win.

Cox's team jumped to a 7-2 lead in the fourth stanza behind three kills from Lammers as well as kills from Bodick and Smith and never looked back. Lander pulled within three on multiple occasions, but USC Aiken closed the match on a 6-1 spurt.  

The Pacers return to action next Friday when they host the PBC-SAC Crossover at 12 p.m., against Lincoln Memorial. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.