PANTHERS NIP PACERS AT WIRE, USCA SPLITS ON DAY TWO
FLORIDA TECH DOWNS USC AIKEN 3-2; LADY PACERS BLANK CLARK-ATLANTA
AUGUSTA, Ga.--USC Aiken (3-1) fell into a 2-1 hole before rallying to force a game five against Florida Tech (3-0) on Saturday morning only to fall 18-16 in the decisive set, suffering their first defeat of the season 3-2. In afternoon action of the Jaguar Classic at the Christenberry Fieldhouse, the Lady Pacers blasted Clark-Atlanta 3-0 thanks to 15 service aces including a career-high eight from Missy Deardorff. Game scores with FIT were 27-30, 30-18, 30-23, 23-30, and 18-16. Game scores against Clark-Atlanta were 30-18, 30-15, and 30-13.
In game one, USC Aiken got double-digit kill performances from Mandy Gerolstein (17), Stefanie Durham (14), and Deardorff (12), but despite collecting 12.0 team blocks, the Panthers proved to be too tough. Mayne Pegorari registered 18 kills to go with six service aces to lead Florida Tech, who hit .215 for the match.
Sophomore setter Whitney Tabbert tallied 57 assists, eight digs, and three blocks. Durham added a game-high 29 digs to go with a pair of aces and her 14 kills. Gerolstein hit .302 with 17 kills and six blocks while Jasmine Edney chipped in eight kills and six blocks.
In the first-ever meeting between USC Aiken and Clark-Atlanta, the Lady Pacers asserted dominance early thanks in part to 15 aces. Deardorff finished one shy of tying Roxanna Rivera and Vicki Elliott’s school record of nine set over a decade ago. Gerolstein turned in an efficient 11 kills and five blocks, hitting .455 while Durham and Edney added 13 and eight kills respectively. As a team, USC Aiken hit .265, nearly 100 points higher than their earlier match with Florida Tech.
The Lady Pacers continue on their nine-match, season-opening road swing when they travel to Florence, S.C. next weekend to participate in the Francis Marion Invitational. USCA will square off against Glenville State on Friday, August 31 at 12:00 PM.
Short Box Score (Match 1)
Florida Tech vs USC Aiken (Aug 25, 2007 at Augusta, Ga.)
Florida Tech def. USC Aiken 27-30,30-18,30-23,23-30,18-16
Florida Tech (3-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Mayne Pegorari 18-6-1; Sacha Gumbs 15-0-0; Lindsay Foster 8-1-2; Leigh Ann Brown 7-0-3; Marcels Vasconcelos 6-3-1; Jessie Metzger 5-0-0; Amanda Boyce 3-1-2; Amy O'Brien 2-0-0; Aurora Jover 0-0-1; Totals 64-11-5.0. (Assists) - Marcels Vasconcelos 34. (Dig leaders) - Amanda Boyce 23; Amy O'Brien 10.
USC Aiken (2-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gerolstein, Mandy 17-0-6; Durham, Stefanie 14-2-0; Deardorff, Missy 12-2-5; Edney, Jasmine 8-0-6; Baker, Katie 7-3-1; Timm, Amanda 4-0-1; Tabbert, Whitney 2-0-3; Seidle, Veronica 1-1-0; Totals 65-8-12.0. (Assists) - Tabbert, Whitney 57. (Dig leaders) - Durham, Stefanie 29; Deardorff, Missy 19; Seidle, Veronica 17; Tabbert, Whitney 8.
Site: Augusta, Ga. (Christenberry Fldhse)
Date: Aug 25, 2007 Attend: 40 Time: 2:10
Short Box Score (Match 2)
Clark Atlanta vs USC Aiken (Aug 25, 2007 at Augusta, Ga.)
USC Aiken def. Clark Atlanta 30-18,30-15,30-13
USC Aiken (3-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Durham, Stefanie 13-1-1; Gerolstein, Mandy 11-1-5; Edney, Jasmine 8-0-0; Baker, Katie 4-0-0; Deardorff, Missy 2-8-1; Tabbert, Whitney 1-0-0; Timm, Amanda 1-4-1; Cedeno, Lauren 1-1-3; Totals 41-15-6.0. (Assists) - Cedeno, Lauren 23; Tabbert, Whitney 13. (Dig leaders) - Spice, Danielle 16; Deardorff, Missy 13; Durham, Stefanie 11.
Site: Augusta, Ga. (Christenberry Fldhse)
Date: Aug 25, 2007 Attend: 45 Time: 1:20