MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team split a pair of matches Saturday, defeating West Alabama 3-1 before falling to Valdosta State 3-1.
The Pacers are now 10-1 on the season.
Against West Alabama, set scores were 25-13, 23-25, 25-15, 25-22.
Alie Smith led the way against UWA, posting a double-double with a match-best 24 kills to go along with 14 digs. She hit .353 in the win.
Anita Cookey-Gam continued her stellar play, notching 12 kills while hitting .348.
Sadie McKay garnered a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs to go along with a match-high five aces.
Caroline Foster distributed a match-best 56 assists.
Kari Mercer posted a match-high 23 digs while chipping in four aces.
Lily Andrews accounted for eight digs.
In the first set, USC Aiken led 11-9 before a kill from McKay started a 7-0 spurt that ended with Mercer's second ace during the spurt as the team cruised to the 12-point win.
The 24 kills by Smith marked the ninth most in a four-set match, tying Jenny Lloyd's mark against the same West Alabama program – on Sept. 23, 2003. Foster's 56 assists were the sixth most in a four-set match in school history, tying a mark set by assistant coach Alli Bell at UNC Pembroke on Oct. 4, 2019.
After losing the second set, the Pacers opened the next frame by scoring the first nine points. Cookey-Gam accounted for three of the kills during the impressive start en route to the 10-point victory.
Head coach
Glenn Cox's team trailed 21-19 in the fourth set. However,
Alisha Pitt and Smith posted back-to-back kills, tying the score at 21-21 and forcing a time-out by UWA. The designated visitors recorded back-to-back errors, giving USC Aiken a 23-21 advantage. McKay served up an ace and two plays later, Smith ended the match with a kill.
In the loss to Valdosta State, Smith led the way with 18 kills and 16 digs for a double-double. McKay also accounted for a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs.
Kayla Duggan chipped in six kills.
Foster distributed 36 assists while Mercer led everyone with 24 digs.
Kayla Duggan also had four total blocks in the contest.
The Pacers return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 22 when they play at Lander at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
