AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State fell 3-0 to Catawba in the first day of play at the USC Aiken Invitational in Aiken, S.C.

The loss was the first of the season for ASU (4-1), which opened its 2009 campaign last weekend with four victories in the Tusculum Fall Classic in Greeneville, Tenn.

Junior Tarah Childress paced the Jaguars with six kills and seven digs, while senior Jessica Howard tallied six kills. Junior Dianna Meyer and freshman Mandy Irizarry each added five kills. Sophomore setter Ashley Zappitell netted 26 assists. Senior libero Lindsey Weider notched six digs and sophomore Jessica Hanson had three total blocks.

The Jaguars wrap up the USC Aiken Invitational Saturday afternoon with a pair of matches, the first at 12:30 p.m. against St. Andrews, and the second against Florida Tech at 3:00 p.m.

Catawba def. Augusta State, 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-23)