AIKEN, S.C. – Behind a dominant outing from senior outside hitter Lauren Nelson, the Augusta University volleyball team earned a key Peach Belt Conference road win on Tuesday evening, defeating rival USC Aiken 3–1 (26–24, 25–19, 15–25, 25–15) inside the Convocation Center. The Jaguars improved to 23–7 overall and 11–3 in PBC play, while the Pacers moved to 14–14 and 6–8.
Nelson powered the Augusta offense, finishing with 20 kills on 47 swings for her fourth 20-kill performance of the season. She added seven service aces and 12 digs, leading the Jaguars on both sides of the ball. Setter Sydney Harrington kept the offense in rhythm with 29 assists and tied her career high with five aces, while junior setter/opposite Mia Saavedra filled the stat sheet with eight kills, 12 assists, and 15 digs.
In the middle, Layne Witherspoon contributed nine kills and two blocks, and sophomore Sofiia Snitsarevych was efficient with six kills on a .250 hitting percentage while adding four blocks. Defensively, Giulia Rodrigues anchored the backcourt with 18 digs and two aces, and senior defensive specialist Hunter MacFarland provided 10 digs and steady serve receive work.
Augusta hit .150 as a team while holding the Pacers to a .110 clip. The Jaguars controlled the serve-and-pass game, producing 12 service aces to USC Aiken's nine, and tallied 12 team blocks that helped limit the Pacers' momentum at the net.
USC Aiken was led by Lexi Rogers' 12 kills and 16 digs, while outside hitter Alli Bishop added 10 kills and a .240 hitting percentage.
With the victory, Augusta earned its 11th conference win of the season. The Jaguars and Pacers will meet again on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. in Aiken for the final regular-season matchup between the two teams.
