AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team played Augusta toe-to-toe in the PBC Semifinal, but came up short in the 3-1 loss.

The Pacers conclude the season with a 9-5 record.

Head coach Glenn Cox's team was led by Alie Smith's match-best 28 kills. She added three blocks in the contest. Kaitlyn Rodriguez accounted for 15 kills and 18 digs for a double-double while Anita Cookey-Gam notched 10 kills and 16 digs for a double-double.

Caroline Foster registered 42 assists, 14 digs and four kills. For good measure, she had three aces.

Defensively, Kari Mercer led everyone with 26 digs. Emily Duggan notched 17 digs and the team combined for 97.

Collectively, USC Aiken had 58 kills and hit .167.

In the first set, USC Aiken jumped out to a 10-6 lead, forcing a time-out by AU. Leading 8-6, Anita Cookey-Gam and Rodriguez had back-to-back kills for the four-point edge. Up 15-14, Cookey-Gam and Smith rattled off three straight points. Cox's team held a 23-16 edge and registered its final two points on kills from Cookey-Gam and Rodriguez for the 25-18 victory.

In a tightly contested second set, USC Aiken trailed 17-14 before a time-out. After the break, Rodriguez helped get things going with a kill. The Pacers knotted it at 19-19 after four straight points, including three from Rodriguez. Down 23-22, USC Aiken called time-out. Smith slammed home a kill, but the Jaguars managed to register the final three points for the 26-24 win.

The Pacers trailed 17-8 in the third frame, but Cox's team rallied to make it a one-point contest at 20-19 on a block by Smith. The point completed a 4-0 spurt by the visitors. However, the Jaguars managed to take a 24-20 lead before Rodriguez found the court. AU managed to close out the set with a 25-21 victory.

USC Aiken led 5-3 after a kill from Foster and an error on the home squad. AU led 17-11 but Smith took a pass from Foster and slammed home a kill. The Pacers pulled within four on a miscue by the Jaguars, but could get no closer in the 25-16 loss.