SAVANNAH, Ga. - The fifth-seeded Lander volleyball team's season came to an end Friday night when the Bearcats were defeated by fourth-seeded USC Aiken, 3-1, in the quarterfinal round of the Peach Belt Conference tournament at Armstrong Atlantic State University. USCA won the match, 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22. (Tournament website)
Lander ends the season at 11-16 overall. USC Aiken (15-15) advances to the semifinals and will face top-seeded Flagler at 4 p.m., Saturday. Flagler defeated eighth-seeded Augusta State, 3-1, in its quarterfinal match.
The other semifinal will pit second-seeded Montevallo, a 3-2 winner over seventh-seeded Francis Marion, and third-seeded Armstrong Atlantic, a 3-2 winner over sixth-seeded UNC Pembroke, at 6 p.m., Saturday. The championship match is scheduled for 2 p.m., Sunday.
The Bearcats were led by Melissa McCracken, Magi Nottingham and Candace LaRocca, who all posted double-doubles in the match. McCracken had 16 kills and 15 digs, Nottingham 15 kills and 11 digs, and LaRocca 45 assists and 14 digs. Hannah Dederick added 14 kills for the Bearcats, while Madison Kubal had 24 digs.
USCA was led by Leah Rodgers (13 kills), Shannon Byers (11 kills, 13 digs), Ashley Farwell (27 assists), and Samantha Lukralle ( 19 digs). Emily Maassen added eight blocks, while Megan Disney and Lindsay Mortenson added five blocks each.
LaRocca ended her career as Lander's all-time leader in assists with 4,638.
