GEROLSTEIN WINS RECORD SIXTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOD
USCA SENIOR RECEIVES PBC'S WEEKLY HONOR FOR THIRD TIME IN FOUR WEEKS

AIKEN, S.C.-- USC Aiken's Mandy Gerolstein has been named the Peach Belt Conference Volleyball Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.  It is the third selection in the last four weeks for Gerolstein, and the sixth of her career.  Following on the heels of Stefanie Durham’s honor on September 10, the Lady Pacers have won the award four of the past five weeks. (PHOTO BY: Scott Webster)

With six career Player of the Week awards, Gerolstein passes former Lady Pacer great Roxanna Rivera for most selections in school history.  Her six career honors also move her into sole possession of third place in PBC history, trailing only North Florida’s Jackie Struck (nine weekly awards from 2001 to 2004) and Traci Knuth of Armstrong Atlantic State (eight weekly awards from 2004 to 2006).

Gerolstein turned in another outstanding week as USC Aiken just continues to roll on.  The 6-1 senior from Millersville, Md. hit an amazing .510 in two matches, averaging 4.29 kills per game.  In a 3-1 win at The Citadel on Tuesday, Gerolstein notched 14 kills and four blocks, hitting .370 as the Lady Pacers got the program’s first win over a Division I foe in six years. 

After sitting out USCA’s 3-0 blanking of Fayetteville State on Thursday, Gerolstein returned to action on Saturday in a key road conference test at Armstrong Atlantic State.  In helping USC Aiken to its 12th-straight victory, including five-consecutive league road wins dating back to last year, the two-time All-Conference performer hit an eye-popping .682 with 16 kills in a 3-0 victory over the second-place Pirates.  She registered kills on her first 10 attempts en route to posting the best single game hitting percentage in the PBC this year.  In fact, Gerolstein owns the top five best performances in the league in 2007. 

Currently, the preseason All-Conference selection and candidate for PBC Player of the Year honors leads the PBC in hitting percentage by over 100 points at .411, ranking 10th in Division II.  In conference contests, she is hitting for an even higher total of .473.  Gerolstein also ranks second in kills at 3.65. 

Gerolstein is the 28th PBC Player/Specialist of the Week selection in head coach Will Condon’s eight-year tenure and the 39th in the program’s 17-year NCAA history. 

Riding the program’s longest winning streak in 16 years, USC Aiken (16-3, 3-0 PBC) returns to action on Friday, October 12 when the Lady Pacers travel to Florence, S.C. to face Francis Marion in a key PBC showdown.