AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken’s Mandy Gerolstein has been selected as the Peach Belt Conference Volleyball Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday afternoon. It is the first career selection for Gerolstein and comes on the heels of last week’s honoree Laura Williams, giving the Lady Pacers back-to-back winners of the weekly award for the first time since October 2000. (MANDY GEROLSTEIN PICTURED)

“I think its fitting that our middle hitters are being recognized in back-to-back weeks,” said USCA head coach Will Condon, who is tied with C.J. Sherman for most victories in school history with 97. “They have been carrying most of our offensive load all season.”

The 6-1 sophomore from Millersville, Md. led the Lady Pacers in their opening weekend of Peach Belt Conference play. Gerolstein hit .418 averaging 3.78 kills and 1.11 blocks per game.

In a 3-1 win over Lander on Friday night, the middle hitter recorded 16 kills, two service aces, and four blocks for 20.5 points, hitting .344. In a hard-fought 3-2 loss to USC Upstate, Gerolstein registered 18 kills and just one error in 35 attacks for a .486 hitting percentage. She also added three digs and six blocks (including four solo).

“Mandy certainly did perform well this week. She has worked really hard to improve as a middle hitter ever since she stepped on our campus,” said Condon. “She has done a great job of minimizing her errors and taking what the defense gives her. The great thing about Mandy is that she is going to continue working hard to get even better. She expects more out of herself than I could ever ask of her.”

She currently leads the Peach Belt Conference in hitting percentage at .303 and ranks sixth in the conference in both blocks (1.02) and kills (3.18) per game.

Gerolstein is the 14th PBC Player of the Week selection under Condon’s six-year tenure and is the 25th in the program’s 15-year NCAA history.

USC Aiken will host archrival Augusta State on Wednesday, September 28 at 7:00 PM in a Peach Belt Conference clash. The Lady Pacers swept the Lady Jags in 2004 to improve to 25-6 in the all-time series.