AIKEN, S.C. – Augusta University volleyball battled through three tightly contested sets before falling 3-1 to USC Aiken in Saturday's Cross River Rivalry match at the Convocation Center.
USC Aiken won 25-15, 26-24, 25-27 and 25-22. Augusta moved to 5-11 overall and 3-2 in Peach Belt Conference play, while USC Aiken improved to 12-3 and 4-1 in the league.
Emma Haren led Augusta with 15 kills and seven digs. Nikol Antova added 12 kills and six digs, while Layne Witherspoon finished with eight kills on .294 hitting and three service aces. Essence Jones also recorded eight kills.
Andrea Rodriguez and Kinley Nicholls each handed out 22 assists and served three aces. Rodriguez added eight digs, while Nicholls collected seven. Moni Anjous led the Jaguars with 10 digs, and Hunter McFarland added nine.
Augusta finished with 51 kills, two more than USC Aiken, and held a 9-8 advantage in service aces. The Pacers hit .180 for the match while holding Augusta to .138 and finished with advantages in digs, 57-51, and blocks, 6.0-4.0.
The Jaguars were limited to seven kills in the opening set as USC Aiken took an early lead with a 25-15 win.
The second set featured 10 ties and six lead changes. Both teams recorded 13 kills, but the Pacers held off Augusta for a 26-24 victory.
Augusta responded in the third, putting down 18 kills and hitting .227. The frame included 13 ties and eight lead changes before the Jaguars secured the 27-25 win to extend the match.
The fourth set remained close with five ties. Augusta recorded 13 kills on .219 hitting, but USC Aiken closed out the match with a 25-22 victory.
Augusta continues its road stretch with two matches at Georgia College next weekend. The Jaguars face the Bobcats Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 10, at 3 p.m.
