SCORE
USC Aiken 3, Montevallo 2 (35-33, 25-13, 18-25, 23-25, 18-16)
RECORDS
Montevallo (18-10 overall, 9-6 in Peach Belt Conference)
USC Aiken (23-3 overall, 12-3 in Peach Belt Conference)
LOCATION
Convocation Center (Aiken, S.C.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
USC Aiken, which is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division II national poll, edged the Falcons for its 14th consecutive victory and managed a split in a pair of regular season meetings between the two teams.
The Falcons survived in an epic battle in the opening frame to clinch a 35-33 victory over the Pacers in the first set. Montevallo led by four points on multiple occasions midway through the set, including a 19-15 lead following an attack error by the Pacers. A 6-1 run by USC Aiken tightened the margin late in the frame. The Falcons staved off defeat with a kill by senior Nicole Holton, which tied the score at 28-28 and kept the set alive. Montevallo clinched the 35-33 win following back-to-back attack errors by the Pacers.
Montevallo finished off the Pacers early in a 25-13 win in the second set. The Falcons raced out to a 5-1 lead following a service ace by Holton and an attack error by USC Aiken. Montevallo took control of the set with a dominant 12-0 run midway through the frame, with senior Carissa Bell serving during 11 points in the run. The Falcons clinched the 25-13 victory following a kill by junior Chandler Cooper and an attack error by the Pacers.
USC Aiken responded with a 25-18 win in the third set to trim the Falcons' lead in the match to 2-1. Montevallo took a 11-9 lead following a kill by senior Rebekah Phelps and a service ace by junior Hannah Christie, but it turned out to be the Falcons' final lead in the set. The Pacers responded with a 7-0 run and held off Montevallo down the stretch in the 25-18 victory.
The Pacers took the fourth set, 25-23, to tie the match at 2-2. USC Aiken opened the frame with a 7-4 run, capped with an attack error by the Falcons. Montevallo took a 10-8 lead following an attack error by the Pacers midway through the set. Montevallo stretched its lead to 16-13 following a service ace by sophomore Kristy Bohan. A kill by Phelps gave the Falcons a 21-18 lead late in the frame before USC Aiken ended the set with a 7-2 run to clinch the 25-23 win.
USC Aiken came all the way back from a 2-0 deficit in the match and clinched its 14th consecutive victory with a 18-16 win in the fifth and final set. The Pacers took a 11-5 lead on an attack error by the Falcons before Montevallo responded with an impressive 9-2 run, capped with a service ace by Phelps and an attack error by USC Aiken, which gave the Falcons a 14-13 advantage. However, the Pacers managed to secure the 18-16 win following a service ace by Diedrich and a ball-handling error by the Falcons.
STAT OF THE MATCH
USC Aiken managed to secure the 3-2 victory despite 39 attack errors in the match. Montevallo finished with just 23 attack errors.
BEYOND THE NUMBERS
Holton finished the match with a career-high 19 kills to go along with 17 digs as she registered her 10th double-double of the season.
Christie recorded her second double-double of the year, with both efforts coming in the past two matches for the Falcons, after finishing with a career-high 23 digs to go along with a team-high 44 assists.
One day after setting a new career high with 27 digs against Lander, Phelps tied her career high with 27 digs against the Pacers.
UP NEXT
The Falcons will return to action Friday, Nov. 6 as they look to remain undefeated at home this season with a Peach Belt Conference match against Flagler College at Trustmark Arena. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
