AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team lost a 3-0 decision at No. 2 Augusta Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the PBC Tournament.

The Pacers conclude the season at 18-9 while the Jaguars improve to 21-8.

Emily Lammers led head coach Glenn Cox's team with 11 kills. Alicia Pitt and Alie Smith added seven kills apiece. Anita Cookey-Gam had four kills and Kayla Duggan totaled one. 

Caroline Foster and Mallory Barash tallied 16 and 11 assists, respectively. 

Defensively, Kari Mercer posted a team-best 19 digs while Smith chipped in 13. Lammers and Duggan added nine and eight, respectively.

After dropping the first set 25-17, USC Aiken jumped out to a 7-4 edge in the second stanza. Trailing 4-3, Lammers recorded three kills and a miscue by the home squad accounted for the four-point run. Leading 13-12, Smith had a kill off a pass from Foster before a ball handling error gave the visitors a 15-12 lead.

Up 16-14, Pitt and Lammers posted back-to-back kills for a four-point margin. USC Aiken held a 19-17 lead but Augusta evened it at 20-20. After the score was tied at 21-21, the Jaguars had back-to-back kills. Cookey-Gam found the court to make it a two-point game but AU recorded a kill to finish the set.

Augusta managed to close out the match in the third set for the victory.

It marked the final collegiate contest for Anita Cookey-Gam, Kayla Duggan and Alie Smith.