ST. AUGUSTINE – Alie Smith recorded a match-high 15 kills and added nine digs as well as two service aces as the University of South Carolina Aiken swept Flagler College (25-23, 25-18, 25-11) in a Peach Belt Conference volleyball match Saturday afternoon at Flagler Gymnasium.
The Pacers extended their winning streak to six matches and improved to 12-2 overall and 3-0 in the Peach Belt. Flagler slipped to 6-10 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
Smith finished with a .364 hitting percentage as she had only three errors on 33 swings. Kayla Duggan added 11 kills and hit an efficient .444. Christine Carroll chipped in with nine kills. Ali Kirk tallied 27 assists while Rebecca Martinez recorded 27 digs.
Karlie Redfern led the Saints with 11 kills.
Raquel Kulak added eight kills and two block assists.
Tara Savisky registered 24 assists and eight digs.
Kayla Norelli led Flagler with 12 digs.
Lily Loeffler tallied eight digs.
The first set was back and forth as there were 13 ties and four lead changes. The largest lead either team had was three points and that was by USC Aiken. Flagler rallied to take a 20-19 lead on a bad set by Martinez. Later, the Saints held a 23-22 lead, but a kill by Brittani Vialdores tied the score and then took the lead on a Flagler hitting error. Carroll ended the set with a kill. The Pacers hit .436 as a team and Duggan hit at an .800 clip. The Saints hit .308 and was led by Kulak who hit .750.
A 5-0 run in the second set was the difference in the second set. Flagler had pulled to within one (14-13) after a
Rachel Porada ace, but Kelsey Spurlin's kill ignited the Pacer run.
USC Aiken opened the third set on a 9-2 run and never looked back.
Flagler ventures back out on the road as it visits the University of North Carolina at Pembroke on Friday (Oct. 5) at 6 p.m.
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