AIKEN, S.C. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team fell to USC Aiken 3-2 in a hard-fought Peach Belt Conference match Oct. 5.

The Falcons fell to the Pacers 14-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-10, 10-15.

Senior Manyi Ati led Montevallo (11-4 overall, 4-3 in Peach Belt Conference) with 16 kills. Ati added 11 digs as she posted her eighth double-double of the season.

Junior Katie Best added 10 kills. Sophomore Rebekah Phelps finished with nine kills, senior Michelle Carle contributed eight kills and junior Sarah Guidry chipped in seven kills.

Senior Kaleigh Harvey registered a team-high 26 digs. Sophomore Briana Marquez provided a team-high 41 assists to go along with 11 digs as she posted her eighth double-double of the season.

The Falcons dropped the opening set against the Pacers, 25-14, after USC Aiken closed the set on a 18-8 run.

Montevallo rallied to pick up a 25-20 win in the second set. The Falcons stormed out to a 5-2 lead following a kill by Guidry and didn't relinquish the lead down the stretch. Best capped the frame with a set-clinching kill.

USC Aiken responded with a 25-23 win in the third set after holding off the Falcons late in the frame

The Falcons tied the match with a 25-10 win in the fourth set. Montevallo stormed out to a 15-1 lead and led by a double-digit margin the rest of the way.

However, the Pacers closed out the match with a 15-10 win in the fifth set to secure the match.

The Falcons return to action Tuesday, Oct. 8 with a trip to Pensacola, Fla. to face the University of West Florida in a non-conference match.

First serve is set for 6 p.m.