AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team notched a pair of victories Saturday at the final day of the Pacer Invitational.

The Pacers are now 7-1 on the season.

In the opener against Francis Marion, head coach Glenn Cox's team fell behind after dropping the first set 25-23. In the second stanza, the Pacers jumped out to an 11-5 lead off a kill from Mallory Barash. Leading 13-10, Anna Sommer slammed home back-to-back kills, forcing a timeout. After the break, Emily Lammers extended the lead with a kill. USC Aiken increased the lead before Alisha Pitt ended the frame with a kill.

In the third set win, USC Aiken came from behind, tying it at 21-21 on Sommer's point. After a time-out, the Pacers rattled off two more points. Tied at 24-24, two miscues by the visitors sealed the set for the home team at 26-24. 

After dropping the fourth set, USC Aiken won a hard-fought 15-13 fifth stanza. In the back-and-forth affair, the Pacers took the lead for good at 12-11 on a block from Barash and Pitt. Kari Mercer's service ace put the team ahead 13-11. Up 13-12, an error by the Patriots and a kill from Sommer ended the match.

For the match, Pitt slammed home 16 kills to lead the way while hitting .433. She was also in on four blocks. Sommer garnered 13 kills while hitting .310. Lammers had a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs.

Caroline Foster dished out 29 assists while Barash had 20. Mercer led everyone with 34 digs while Sadie McKay chipped in 22. 

At the net, Kaitlyn Lund registered seven total blocks and Sommer had six.  

In the nightcap against North Greenville, USC Aiken managed to get the clean sweep. 

Tied at 17-17, Sommer found the court for a kill. After a kill by McKay and an error by the visitors, NGU sliced the margin to three at 20-18. However, USC Aiken outscored the Crusaders 5-2 to close out the set. Lund and Lammers blocked an attack for the final point.

The Pacers jumped out to a 10-3 lead after Foster's outstanding serves to open the frame and a Lammers kill for the 10^th point. NGU pulled within four at 13-9 but Cox's team was not seriously challenged in the 25-17 victory.

Leading 14-10, USC Aiken embarked on a 4-0 spurt to put the set and match away. During the run, Rodriguez had two kills while Barash and Sommer went in on a block together. Up 22-13, McKay slammed home a kill. Foster had an ace before McKay closed the day with a thunderous kill.

For the match, McKay led the way with 16 kills while Lund totaled nine. Sommer and Lammers had eight and seven, respectively. Kaitlyn Rodriguez chipped in six. 

Barash led the way with 21 assists while Foster added 17 and three aces.

Defensively, Mercer posted 19 digs and Rodriguez contributed 13. Sommer blocked three attempts while Barash, Lammers and Lund had two blocks apiece.  

The Pacers return to action Friday when they play at the West Georgia Tournament. The team takes on Montevallo (12 p.m.) and Valdosta State (6 p.m.). Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.