ST. AUGUSTINE – Rachel Machovec recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs as Flagler College opened Peach Belt Conference play with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 27-25) sweep of USC Aiken Friday night at Flagler Gymnasium.

Flagler improved to 3-2 overall while USC Aiken was playing in its season opener.

"I loved the aggressiveness our team showed from the service line tonight, and I thought our back row defense was the best it has been this season," said head coach Matt Affolder. "Edie (Lamoreaux) came in from the first serve and made a big impact on the match, and I thought Karolina (Garstka) played her best match in the Crimson and Gold handling some big shots."

Logan Garcia added 10 kills and hit .421 as she only had two errors on 19 swings. She had three total blocks. Kennedy Muff tallied 34 assists and three total blocks while Karolina Garstka collected 13 digs. Victoria Bowrosen had three of Flagler's eight service aces.

"As much as we wanted to keep Aiken's big outside hitter from getting the kill numbers she produced, we kept her hitting percentage down which made a difference," said Affolder. "As this was the first time we have seen this version of Aiken's team, we had to figure out some things and I know we will learn more for the rematch with the film/information we gathered."

Alie Smith recorded a match-high 15 kills. Sydney Bresee added 13 kills and hit .600 with just one error on 20 swings. Caroline Foster racked up 31 assists while Kayla Duggan paced the defense with 14 digs.

In the first set, the Saints opened on a 7-2 run and never looked back. Flagler hit .361 as it finished with 19 kills and six errors on 36 swings. Garcia, Rachel Machovec, and Lindsey Glynn each had four kills.

The second set featured 10 ties and eight lead changes. Trailing 23-22 late in the set, Rachel Machovec and Muff recorded kills and Garstka ended the set with an ace.

Flagler was rolling in the third set and held a 21-15 lead after a Garcia kill. The Pacers scored eight consecutive points and took a 22-21 lead after a hitting error by the Saints. USC Aiken extended the lead to 23-21, but Flagler rallied back and fought off set point to tie the set at 24. With the score tied at 25, Garcia and Muff blocked Smith and then a Rachel Machovec ended the match.

Flagler hosts Augusta University tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Flagler Gymnasium.

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