Volleyball | June 22, 2021
AIKEN, S.C. – Throughout the month of June, the University of South Carolina Aiken Athletic Communications office will showcase the top moment from each program from the 2020-21 academic year.
The USC Aiken volleyball team had its season moved from the fall of 2020 to the spring of 2021. In a season that saw the squad only scheduled to play 14 league matches, the Pacers were fortunate not to have any contests postponed or canceled – until the end of the regular season.
Head coach
Glenn Cox's team had an abundance of youth on the squad and held a 9-4 record going into the final regular-season match at Georgia College, who the Pacers had defeated earlier in the year by a 3-0 score.
A day before the match was slated to take place, COVID-19 issues forced the match to be canceled. USC Aiken had uncertainty on if it would be able to play in the PBC Tournament with a very limited roster.
As the No. 3 seed, the Pacers had enough student-athletes at each position to field a team at No. 2 Augusta. However, the squad had just one substitute available if needed for the match.
USC Aiken jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the first set on a kill by
Kaitlyn Rodriguez. Leading 15-14, the Pacers rattled off three straight points. Up 19-16, Cox's group posted four consecutive points for a 23-16 edge. A kill from Rodriguez gave the visitors a 25-18 first-set win.
The Pacers trailed 19-15 in the second set, but an error by the Jaguars and three straight points from Rodriguez knotted the score. Down 20-19, Rodriguez and
Alie Smith posted back-to-back kills. USC Aiken led 24-23 after a kill from Smith, but AU managed to sneak out a 26-24 win.
The Jaguars ended up winning the match 3-1 but a short-handed USC Aiken volleyball team put forth a superb effort. For the match, Smith led the way with a match-high 28 kills while Rodriguez and
Anita Cookey-Gam added 15 and 10, respectively.
Caroline Foster tallied 42 assists and 14 digs while
Kari Mercer posted a match-best 26 digs.
Emily Duggan chipped in 17 digs as well.
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