CARROLLTON, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken team needed five sets to knock off West Georgia by a 3-2 score.

The Pacers improve to 9-2 on the season.

Sadie McKay led the way with 15 kills and 11 digs. Abbey Schad notched 11 kills and three blocks. Anna Sommer and Emily Lammers each had nine kills. Lammers chipped in 11 digs. Kaitlyn Rodriguez and Cat Bodick contributed six kills and two kills, respectively.

Caroline Foster dished out 21 assists while Mallory Barash totaled 18.

Foster earned a double-double with 11 digs.

Defensively, Kari Mercer led the team with 19 digs. At the net, Barash had a monster match, blocking six attempts while Sommer had five blocks.

Trailing 10-6 in the first set, Sommer slammed home a kill. Barash and Schad combined for a block before Schad was surgical with her next kill. The Pacers were behind 12-10 but Schad started a spurt with a kill. After an error by UWG tied the set at 12-12, Rodriguez powered home a point. McKay's ace pushed the advantage to two before Rodriguez and Schad stuffed an attempt for a 15-12 advantage. USC Aiken finished the run with an ace by McKay.

Leading 19-15, an error gave the Pacers a five-point edge. Lammers garnered an ace before Sommer tallied a kill. The Pacers cruised to the seven-point win on a kill by McKay.

The Pacers trailed 17-16 in the second stanza but McKay knotted the contest. Two plays later, the squad went back to McKay for an 18-18 tie. Lammers gave the visitors a one-point edge. Rodriguez pushed the margin to 20-18 but UWG knotted it two plays later.

Schad slammed home a kill, giving USC Aiken the lead for good. Lammers and Rodriguez posted back-to-back kills before Sommer ended the frame with a solo block and a kill for the 25-20 victory.

After dropping the next two sets, the teams were tied at 4-4 in the fifth frame. A bad set by WGU and an attack error made it 6-4. Barash and Sommer blocked an attempt. Then, Barash stuffed a shot by herself before the dyad of Barash and Sommer combined for the team's third straight block and a 9-4 margin.

Leading 12-11, McKay garnered a kill. Up 13-12, Kaitlyn Lund stuffed a shot before Sommer finished the match with a point.

The Pacers return to action Tuesday when they open PBC play at Georgia College at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.