AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team knocked off UNC Pembroke by a 3-0 count Wednesday evening.

The Pacers are now 7-3 on the year while the Braves fall to 5-4. Set scores were 25-22, 25-22 and 25-20.

Alie Smith led the way with 18 kills while Kaitlyn Rodriguez posted 12 while hitting .308. Sydney Bresee and Alisha Pitt had five kills apiece while Anita Cookey-Gam chipped in four.

Caroline Foster distributed 35 assists and had 12 digs for a double-double.

Defensively, Kari Mercer notched 20 digs while Smith had 16 for a double-double. Kayla Duggan tallied 11 digs while Emily Duggan registered nine.

At the net, Breese, Cookey-Gam and Pitt had two block assists apiece.

UNCP jumped out to a 14-9 lead in the first set but a 7-1 run by head coach Glenn Cox's team made it 16-15 after a kill from Smith. Leading 22-21, a service error by the Braves pushed it to 23-21. UP 23-22, Smith slammed home a kill and an attack error by UNCP allowed the Pacers take the win.

USC Aiken led 8-1 in the early going of the second set. Foster had a pair of kills and Smith had three in the run. The visitors continued to slice into the deficit and pulled within one at 20-19. Smith garnered two kills and Emily Dugan served up an ace, pushing it to 23-20. Bresee took a pass from Foster for a kill. Leading 24-22, an error by the Braves allowed USC Aiken to claim the set.

Cox's squad led 14-8 in the third frame, but the visitors pulled within two at 21-19. However, Pitt and Rodriguez blocked an attempt, starting a 3-0 mini-spurt. Rodriguez hammered home a kill before Mercer found the court with an ace. Leading 24-20, Bresee ended the match with a thunderous kill.

The Pacers return to action on Tuesday, Apr. 6 when they host Augusta at 6 p.m.