AIKEN, SC--USC Aiken out hit Francis Marion but was plagued by service errors and a timely Patriot defense in falling 3-1 in Peach Belt Conference volleyball action on Friday night at “The Courthouse” in Aiken, SC. Game scores were 30-25, 30-27, 21-30, and 30-23. The two teams split their two-match season series with each winning on the opponents home floor.

In pregame festivities, USCA junior Jenny Lloyd was recognized for becoming just the fourth Lady Pacers in history to reach the 1,000-kill plateau for her career. Her teammates presented the reigning PBC Player of the Week with a signed volleyball.

FMU hit just .055 for the match compared to the Lady Pacers’ .162, but USCA served up 16 errors to just seven aces. The Patriots doubled that ace total with 14 while registering 13 service errors.

In game one, FMU jumped to an early 5-1 lead, but a pair of Lloyd kills and an ace keyed a 7-1 run to push USCA in front 8-6. The game was knotted up for the final time at 18-18, but a Jessica McCoy ace followed by three-straight USCA attacking errors capped a 6-0 run as FMU claimed a 22-18 advantage. McCoy finished with a match-best six aces. The Lady Pacers pulled within three at 28-25, but a McCoy kill and a USCA attack error closed out the game 30-25.

Game two again featured a large lead by the Patriots. Back-to-back aces by Kelly Feber capped a 5-0 run that pushed FMU in front 20-14. Following a timeout called by USCA head coach Will Condon, the Lady Pacers charged back with a 6-0 run to knot it up at 20-20. Helena Jantti recorded two of her nine kills during the run. Tied 27-27, a Feber kill ended the game 30-27 in favor of the Patriots.

Momentum shifted in game three with the score tied 11-11 and the Lady Pacers stringing together five-straight points, three off the arm of Amy Long. FMU got back within 18-15, but four-straight kills by Lloyd powered USCA to the 30-21 win.

In the fourth and final game, two late 4-0 runs distanced the Patriots from USCA for the 30-23 win.
Long finished with 18 kills, 11 digs, three blocks, and two aces to lead the Lady Pacers. Lloyd chipped in 10 kills and 14 digs. Jessica Lane added nine kills.

For Francis Marion, Kim Covil rang up 10 kills to go with 14 digs and four blocks. Rachael Matthews and Feber each added 15 digs.

USC Aiken will host UNC Pembroke tomorrow at 7:00 PM. FMU travels to face Augusta State in a 3:00 PM showdown.

Boxscore

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