AIKEN, S.C. – Three University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball student-athletes registered double-digit kills in the 3-1 loss to Flagler.

The Pacers fall to 13-10 overall, including 4-8 in league play. 

Sadie McKay led the way with 11 kills and 14 digs for a double-double effort. Anna Sommer notched 11 kills while Abbey Schad accounted for 10.

Caroline Foster dished out 31 assists and Mallory Barash added nine. Foster led the team with a pair of aces.

Defensively, Kari Mercer posted a team-best 28 digs. Kaitlyn Rodriguez accounted for 11 digs in the contest.

After dropping the first set, USC Aiken jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the second frame. With Foster serving to start the frame, the Pacers recorded five straight points, culminating with an ace from Foster and a kill from Schad. A block from Schad and Emily Lammers made it -2 before a miscue pushed the score to 10-2, forcing a second time-out from Flagler. 

The Saints trimmed the margin to two at 20-18 but Lammers and Sommer had kills before Lammers had an ace for a 23-18 advantage. Up 23-20, back-to-back errors from Flagler ended the set at 25-20.

Down 2-1 heading into the fourth set, head coach Glenn Cox's team started the frame on a 7-2 spurt. With McKay serving, she had a kill and an ace before Rodriguez hammered home three straight kills. USC Aiken led 9-6 and Foster confused the defense with a kill. McKay notched back-to-back points to make it 12-6. A Flagler error and a block from Sommer pushed the advantage to 14-6. 

The Saints embarked on a 14-4 run and held a 23-20 lead. However, McKay pulled the team within two and an error by the visitors made it a one-point contest. Flagler managed to score the final two points for the win. 

The Pacers return to action Friday at the PBC/SAC Crossover against Lincoln Memorial at 2 p.m.