GREENWOOD, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team recorded a come-from-behind 3-2 win at Lander Wednesday evening in the PBC opener.

The Pacers are now 11-1 on the season, including a 1-0 mark in league play.

Alie Smith led the way with a match-high 21 kills. She added 17 digs for a double-double. Alicia Pitt accounted for 13 kills. Sadie McKay recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs.

Kayla Duggan contributed 10 kills to go along with a pair of blocks in the win while Anita Cookey-Gam tallied six kills and four blocks.

Caroline Foster notched a double-double with 50 assists and 15 digs.

Kari Mercer posted a match-best 24 digs.

After dropping the first set 25-19, head coach Glenn Cox's team bounced back for a 25-16 win in the next stanza.

The Pacers and Bearcats were tied at 3-3 in the second stanza before an error gave the visitors a side-out. Kayla Duggan garnered back-to-back kills and was in on a block with Cookey-Gam for a 7-3 edge. The squad pushed the score to 9-3 lead. Moments later, USC Aiken made it 19-11 on a Foster ace. After a kill from Smith that made it 24-16, an error by the home team gave the visitors a nine-point edge.

The Pacers dropped a 25-23 thriller in the third set, but once again evened the match with a 25-17 win in set four.

Leading 16-15, Kayla Duggan hammered home a kill. A pair of errors by the Bearcats and kills from McKay and Pitt made it 21-15. Lander pulled within six at 23-17, but Smith increased the margin to 24-17. On the ensuing play, Cookey-Gam and Foster stuffed an attack for the set.  

In the fifth and deciding frame, the teams were tied at 7-7 before Pitt gave USC Aiken the lead for good. After an error by Lander, Pitt found the court again, forcing a time-out. Leading 10-9, Pitt and Smith accounted for back-to-back kills. Up 12-10, Pitt sliced the defense for another point. After an error by the Bearcats made it 14-10, Mercer's sensational serve befuddled the defense for an ace and the win.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they play Georgia College at 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSPorts.com.