HARROGATE, Tenn. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team split a pair of matches against South Atlantic Conference teams Friday, taking down Mars Hill after dropping a contest to Lincoln Memorial.
The Pacers are now 14-11 on the season.
In the opener against the Railsplitters, head coach
Glenn Cox's team was led by 11 kills from
Emily Lammers.
Anna Sommer posted a .357 attack percentage with seven kills to go along with a team-high two blocks.
Brooke Wroten,
Sadie McKay and
Kaitlyn Rodriguez had five kills apiece.
Caroline Foster distribute 25 assists while
Mallory Barash accounted for seven.
At the service line, McKay lit up the designated home team with four aces.
Defensively,
Kari Mercer posted a match-high 17 digs. Rodriguez chipped in nine digs while Barash and McKay had seven digs apiece.
In the third set, USC Aiken rallied back from an 18-13 deficit to take a 24-21 lead. During the run, Sommer got things going with a kill. McKay and Wroten posted back-to-back kills to make it 18-16. Moments later, McKay launched back-to-back aces to tie the contest while forcing a time-out. Two miscues and another ace from McKay gave the Pacers a 24-21 advantage.
Set scores were 25-15, 25-15, 26-24.
In the nightcap, the score was tied at 15-15 in the first stanza before Cox's group embarked on a 10-4 run to claim the victory. Up 18-17, Rodriguez hammered home a pass from Barash. A miscue by the Lions forced a time-out at 20-17. Sommer returned from the break with a kill and was in on a block with Rodriguez to open a five-point lead. Leading 24-19, Sommer finished the set with a kill.
After dropping the second set 25-23, the Pacers rebounded for a two-point win in the third frame. USC Aiken trailed 11-6 and 17-12 before making another sensational run. Behind 23-19, McKay recorded a kill before Barash served up an ace. Another kill from McKay pulled the Pacers within one, 23-22. Down by two, 24-22, Barash and Lammers posted back-to-back kills to knot the score at 24-24. After an error by Mars Hill, McKay concluded the win with an ace.
In the back-and-forth fourth set, USC Aiken trailed 15-14 but quickly answered with a 5-0 run. During the spurt, Rodriguez had two kills while Sommer added one.
Abbey Schad served up two aces, forcing a time-out. Leading 20-18, Rodriguez posted a kill. Sommer and Barash followed her up with back-to-back kills. Up 23-19, Barash connected with McKay for back-to-back kills for the six-point win.
For the match, McKay notched a double-double with 16 kills and 12 digs. Sommer recorded 14 kills while Rodriguez added a double-double with 12 kills and 16 digs. Lammers chipped in nine kill and 10 digs.
Barash recorded 49 assists and nine digs. She and McKay each added three aces.
Mercer added 14 digs. At the net, Rodriguez and Sommer were each in one three blocks.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they square off against Tusculum at 4 p.m., at Carson-Newman. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
