AIKEN, SC--Lander University (7-9, 1-3
PBC) opened strong with wins in games one and two and then held off a
late USC Aiken (8-10, 3-1 PBC) rally in game four for the 3-1 win (30-23,
30-19, 23-30, 30-23) on Friday at “The Courthouse”. It was
the Lady Pacers’ first Peach Belt Conference loss of the season
and Lander’s first PBC win. Lander defeated USC Aiken in volleyball
for just the second time in 11 all-time meetings.
Game one was tied 12-12, before Lander put together a 4-0 run keyed by USCA attacking
errors. A solo block by freshman Laura Williams got the Lady Pacers back within
one at 16-15, but trading points at a two-for-one pace, the Bearcats pulled away
to the 30-23 win. USCA hit -.021 in game one compared to Lander’s .150.
In game two, a Tracy Jacobs kill and a Julie Huber ace book ended a 4-0 Bearcat
run to create a 10-4 advantage. Jacobs finished with 12 kills and 13 digs. Christen
Halberstadt led Lander with 14 kills, 16 digs, and a game-best .393 hitting percentage.
As a team, Lander out hit USCA .193 to .086 for the match.
Leading 19-12, the Bearcats reeled off five more points on the service of Ashley
Stathus to move ahead 24-12. Status tallied seven blocks. A couple of Jenny Lloyd
aces pulled the Lady Pacers to 29-17 before an attack error ended the game. Lloyd,
coming off her record setting 36-kill performance in a 3-1 win over Augusta State
on Wednesday, registered 23 kills, but hit just .086. She added 15 digs and four
aces.
The biggest point of the match for USC Aiken came at 3-3 of game three. Senior
Helena Jantti and Williams recorded a block of a Lander attack to take the 4-3
lead. It marked the first time in the match that USCA held a lead. Tied 21-21,
the Lady Pacers rattled off a 9-2 run keyed by back-to-back Rachel Dalitz aces
to take the game 30-23.
In game four at 3-3, Lander won 17 of the next 22 points to claim a 20-8 advantage.
An Amy Long kill and an ace by Jessica Lane drew USCA within 24-20, but that
was as close as they would get. Long finished with 11 kills and 16 digs.
USC Aiken won the battle of service aces 15-8, however, the Bearcats out blocked
the Lady Pacers 15.0 to 7.0.
USC Aiken hosts rival USC Spartanburg tomorrow at 3:00 PM in a key PBC showdown.
Lander will play at Augusta State tomorrow at 3:00 PM.
Boxscore
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