AIKEN, SC--The USC Aiken volleyball team (0-5) treated the fans at “The Courthouse” to a five-game thriller in the team’s home opener on Wednesday night; unfortunately it finished on a soar note. Presbyterian College (4-1) rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Lady Pacers 3-2 (28-30, 30-21, 19-30, 30-22, 15-9) in non-conference action.

Junior Jenny Lloyd led the Lady Pacers with a game-high 21 kills and Amy Long added 17 kills but it was not enough for USCA to overcome a .059 hitting percentage over the final two games. For Lloyd, who added 12 digs and two solo blocks, it was her third 20-kill match in five contests this season.

Donja Bobbitt and Erin Friday were the dangerous tandem for the Blue Hose. Bobbitt tallied 20 kills and 13 digs while Friday registered 18 kills and 10 digs. As a team, PC hit .229 for the match and recorded 15.5 team blocks.

After USCA took game one 30-28, PC responded with a 30-21 win in game two. The pivotal game three witnessed eight ties and nine lead changes, all coming before the final one at 16-16. Freshman Nicole Fleming reeled off three aces on 7-0 run for the Lady Pacers as they charged ahead 23-16 and took game three 30-19. For the game, Fleming had five aces.

In game four, an ace by Lloyd erased an early 7-3 deficit and knotted the game at 8-8. But a 6-0 run by the Blue Hose keyed by a Friday ace created the cushion PC needed to win 30-22 and force the fifth and deciding game.

PC jumped to an early 3-1 lead in game five and extended that to 8-3 before the teams switched sides. A pair of 3-0 spurts by the Lady Pacers got them within 10-9 on a Helena Jantti ace and a Long kill, but five straight points closed out the game and match for Presbyterian.

Jasmin Brown added eight kills and 10 blocks while Kellie Haire dished out 48 assists for PC.
Rachel Dalitz totaled 46 helpers and 14 digs for USC Aiken.

USC Aiken will now hit the road for an 11-match road swing beginning at the Carson-Newman Tournament in Jefferson City, TN this Friday and Saturday. USCA will face Glenville State and Converse on Friday followed by Mars Hill and Lincoln Memorial on Saturday. PC returns home to host Newberry in their South Atlantic Conference opener on Tuesday, September 9 at 7:00 PM in Clinton, SC.

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