AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team recorded a 3-1 victory over Lander Tuesday evening in the home finale.

The Pacers are now 9-4 on the season while the Bearcats fall to 2-10.

Alie Smith led the way with a match-high 25 kills to go along with 22 digs for a double-double. The 25 kills marked the sixth most in a four-set match in school history. Kaitlyn Rodriguez accounted for a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs.

Rookie Sophie Meredith registered her first career start and responded with 41 assists, 10 digs and six kills while hitting .417.

Kari Mercer narrowly missed out on a double-double with 27 digs and eight assists. Anita Cookey-Gam chipped in 12 digs.

Alisha Pitt tallied six kills and three blocks while Cat Bodick garnered five kills and a pair of blocks. Sydney Bresee was in on three blocks as well.

Tied at 14-14 in the opening frame, Smith slammed down back-to-back passes from Meredith, forcing a time-out by the visitors. Mercer served up an ace for a three-point edge. Leading 20-17, Bresee and Smith went back-to-back for a five-point margin. Lander pulled within two at 23-21, but Rodriguez hammered home a kill and served up an ace to clinch the set 25-21.

USC Aiken trailed 12-10, but Smith accounted for two points and Pitt had one during the 4-0 spurt. The set favored the Pacers 22-19 and an error by the Bearcats pushed the lead to four at 23-19. Smith split three defenders for a 24-19 advantage. After LU registered a point, Pitt confused the defense with a subtle attack toward the sideline for the game-winning point.

After losing the third set, head coach Glenn Cox's team responded with a resounding 25-19 victory that was not as close as the score indicated. The Pacers jumped out to a 12-3 lead. Up by a 6-3 count, Rodriguez pounded home two kills, forcing a time-out. After the quick break, Smith dropped back and served up two of her four aces. Pitt followed that up with back-to-back kills for a 12-3 lead.

USC Aiken was up 23-17 and Bodick sliced the defense for a kill. Leading 24-19, Rodriguez tooled the block for the match-winning point.

The victory marked the 400^th career win for Cox.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they close out the regular season at Georgia College. The match is slated to start at 3 p.m.