AIKEN, S.C. – The Lander volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to USC Aiken at the Convocation Center on Thursday night. The Bearcats fell 25-17, 23-25, 25-22, 25-16. 

With the loss, Lander moves to 18-8 overall and 6-7 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Pacers improve to 22-3, (11-2).

Bright spots on the night for the Bearcats included strong attacking performances from Khiani Kelly and Halle Dotson. Both finished with 14 kills, while Kelly registered a .500 hitting percentage. At the net, Reilly Kunstler recorded five block assists and added six kills. Dotson also managed five block assists. Katie Haake picked up a double-double, ending the match with 18 assists and 13 digs. Sophia Perkins led the Bearcats with 20 assists on the night, while Hannah McManus, Kendall Korte and Amanda Medlock recorded 14, 13 and 11 digs, respectively. 

After dropping the opening set, Lander stormed back from a 23-15 deficit in the second set, going on a 10-0 run to even the match at 1-1. USC Aiken rallied in the third set to erase an early six-point deficit to win 25-22 before overpowering the Bearcats, 25-16, in the final set. 

Lander will look to get back in the win column when the Bearcats travel to Florence to take on Francis Marion on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 7:00 p.m.