USC Aiken Wins 2007 Regular Season Volleyball Championship

AIKEN, S.C.--It seems only fitting that the odds-on favorite to win Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year honors put the exclamation point on USC Aiken’s first outright PBC Regular Season Championship in 12 years. Mandy Gerolstein’s kill was the final point in an easy 3-0 win for the Lady Pacers (22-4, 8-0 PBC) over visiting Lander (20-9, 4-4 PBC) on Wednesday evening at the Convocation Center. Game scores were 30-15, 30-10, and 30-22. Winners of 18 of their last 19, USCA remains perfect at home and in the PBC.

Gerolstein finished with 12 kills and two blocks, hitting .370, tying teammate Stefanie Durham for match-high honors. The senior from Millersville, Md., profiled on regional television earlier this week for her excellence in the classroom (carries a 3.96 GPA in biology) and on the court (a two-time All-Conference standout), was the catalyst for the Lady Pacers rise to dominance. From a 16-14 record in 2005 to back-to-back PBC Championships in 2006 and now 2007, the program’s sixth overall, USCA has won 20 of its last 22 league contests.

In defeating the Bearcats for the ninth-straight time, USC Aiken earns a first round bye and the number one seed in next weekend’s PBC Tournament. A remarkable 24-3 in individual games versus conference foes in 2007, the Lady Pacers have won 19-straight games dating back to a 3-1 decision at Lander on September 22.

With both teams executing early in game one, USC Aiken led in a back-and-forth affair 8-5 after Durham kill. The junior outside hitter from Easley, S.C. proceeded to serve up four-straight points as the Lady Pacers created a cushion at 11-5. A Kay Stewart kill pulled the Bearcats within 20-15, but three service aces by Jasmine Edney fueled a 10-0 run as the Lady Pacers closed out the 30-15 win.

Edney turned in a superb night with nine kills, no errors, four aces, and five blocks hitting .529. As a team, USC Aiken outhit Lander .284 to -.036.

In game two, a 12-2 spurt broke open a 4-3 contest as three Edney kills sparked the 17-5 advantage. USC Aiken won the set 30-10.

In the third stanza, an 8-3 run opened up three-point game into a commanding 17-9 Lady Pacer spread as USC Aiken pulled away to the 30-22 victory.

Sophomore setter Lauren Cedeno tallied 38 assists and two aces while Missy Deardorff had 14 digs and Veronica Seidle chipped in four aces.

Kerri Sorensen paced Lander with seven kills and 12 digs, hitting .179. Andrea Griffin added eight kills and two blocks.

USC Aiken will host rival Augusta State on Friday, November 2 at 7:00 PM at the Convocation Center. Lander returns home to Greenwood, S.C. to host Armstrong Atlantic State, also on Friday at 7:00 PM.

Boxscore