SPARTANBURG, S.C.--USC Aiken (13-10, 5-3 PBC) twice rallied from one game down, but fell in the decisive game five 15-13 to USC Upstate (17-8, 5-2 PBC) in a crucial Peach Belt Conference volleyball showdown on Friday night at the Hodge Center. The Spartans snap the Lady Pacers winning streak at six games and sweep the season series taking both matches in five games. Game scores were 30-23, 26-30, 31-29, 27-30, and 15-13.

USCA drops out of sole possession of second place with the loss, which is taken over by USC Upstate pending the outcome of the Armstrong Atlantic State and Francis Marion contest. These two rivals have played extremely close contests over the past six years, but the Spartans hold a 12-3 edge thanks to winning all six of the matches that have gone five games.

Sophomore right side Missy Deardorff led the Lady Pacers with 18 kills and one block hitting .314. Three-time PBC Player of the Week Mandy Gerolstein rang up 16 kills and added four solo blocks, but hit .175. Laura Williams added 11 kills and three blocks. Setter Rachel Dalitz tallied 37 assists and one ace while Stefanie Durham and Veronica Seidle each had 18 digs.

Mandy Rupert did most of the damage for Upstate registering a match-high 24 kills to go along with four aces and two blocks for 30.0 points. Jennifer Joraskie was also in double figures with 12 kills.

The Lady Pacers hit .173 compared to .123 for the Lady Spartans, but were out blocked 10.0 to 9.0 and on the short end of 9-5 edge in aces.

USC Aiken will travel to Augusta, Ga. on Wednesday, October 26 to play rival Augusta State at 7:00 PM. The Lady Pacers hold a dominating 27-6 lead in the all-time series including having won 12 of the last 13.

Short Box Score (Match)
USC Aiken vs USC Upstate (Oct 21, 2005 at Spartanburg, S.C.)
USC Upstate def. USC Aiken 30-23,26-30,31-29,27-30,15-13

USC Aiken (13-10, 5-3 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Deardorff, Missy 18-0-1; Gerolstein, Mandy 16-1-4; Williams, Laura 11-0-3; Seidle, Veronica 7-0-0; Greene, Christina 7-0-0; Durham, Stefanie 5-0-0; Dalitz, Rachel 4-1-1; Baker, Katie 2-2-0; Jackson, Keri 1-0-0; Barcas, Cheryl 1-1-0; Totals 72-5-9.0. (Assists) - Dalitz, Rachel 37; Barcas, Cheryl 19. (Dig leaders) - Durham, Stefanie 18; Seidle, Veronica 18; Johnson, Hayden 16; Timm, Amanda 12; Greene, Christina 11.

USC Upstate (17-8, 5-2 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Rupert, Mandy 24-4-2; Joraskie, Jennifer 12-0-2; Mrowczynski, Lauren 8-1-3; Kunz, Kristen 7-1-0; Leslie, Jenna 5-0-3; Ortlieb, Allison 3-0-0; Mauldin, Holly 1-1-0; Hagemann, Erin 0-2-0; Totals 60-9-10.0. (Assists) - Pallardy, Shannon 30; Mauldin, Holly 21. (Dig leaders) - Harry, Brittany 26; Hagemann, Erin 15; Mauldin, Holly 13.

Site: Spartanburg, S.C. (G.B. Hodge Center)
Date: Oct 21, 2005 Attend: 160 Time: 2:20

Boxscore