AIKEN, S.C. – Flagler College's six-match winning streak came to a halt as the University of South Carolina Aiken got a match-high 21 kills from Taylor Stratton to squeeze out a 3-2 (25-23, 25-20, 18-25, 22-25, 16-14) win Friday night in a Peach Belt Conference volleyball match at the Convocation Center.
The Pacers extended their winning streak to nine matches and improved to 19-3 overall and 8-2 in the Peach Belt. Flagler dropped to 10-5 overall and 6-1 in conference play. The two teams split the season series.
In the fifth set, the Saints bolted out to a 3-0 lead and then maintained that three-point advantage to the court swap (8-5) after an
Ashley Cheewah kill. The Pacers wiped out the Saints lead by going on a 4-0 run which was capped by an ace by Emily Teelon to give USC Aiken a 10-9 lead. After a timeout, Flagler got a kill from
Taja Valmyr to knot the score at 10-all. The Pacers pulled ahead and had the first match point (14-12), but a kill by
Sara Davis, and another from Cheewah, tied the score at 14-all. Julia Forster's kill gave USC Aiken match point again (15-14) and then
Megan Hooks' attack attempt went wide to give the Pacers the set (16-14) and the match.
Stratton, the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week, completed the double-double with 17 digs. Teelon, the PBC Specialist of the Week, tallied 55 assists and collected 13 digs. Christine Carroll added 11 kills while Kassy Johannsen tacked on 10 kills and five total blocks. Amber Hendry and Forster each added 10 kills. Danielle Mercer gathered 29 digs.
The Pacer defense was busy as they collected 103 digs.
Davis led the offense for the Saints with 15 kills and she hit .306 with four errors on 36 swings. Valmyr recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 kills and a season-high 15 digs. Cheewah added 11 kills and hit an efficient .333 with only three errors on 29 swings.
Tara Savisky recorded her ninth double-double with 43 assists and 14 digs.
Kayla Norelli collected 27 digs and had three service aces.
The Saints will look to re-group as they take on Lander University tomorrow (Oct. 22) at 2 p.m. at Horne Arena in Greenwood, South Carolina.
