Augusta, Ga. - The Lander volleyball team (15-10, 4-7 PBC) fell to Augusta (17-13, 6-5 PBC) on Tuesday by a score of 3-1. Freshman Hannah Hritz led the Bearcats with 15 kills on a .208 hitting percentage.

The game's first set saw the two teams trading points early and often. The Bearcats claimed a 21-20 lead after freshman Nell Copeland garnered her second kill of the match. The Jaguars would respond though with three straight points to claim a 23-21 advantage. Unwilling to relent, Lander battled back to extend the match with a 25-25 deuce score. However Augusta would again have the answer, as the Jaguars notched two straight points to gain the 27-25 first set win.

In the second set, the two teams again fought in a tightly-contested affair. Augusta jumped out to an early 8-4 lead, before the Bearcats again evened the score at 10. The Jaguars leaned on sophomore Payton Murchie as the setter delivered a service ace to go along with five straight points to give Augusta the 15-11 lead. The Jaguars never trailed after that point as the team gained the second set victory by a score of 25-21.

The Bearcats found a win in the third set behind seven kills from Hritz and two from senior Kristin Martindale. Lander held off a late charge from Augusta to take the 25-23 set win.

Augusta never trailed in the fourth set as the Jaguars took advantage of four errors committed by the Bearcats. Augusta outside hitter Savanna Roy led the Jaguars with five kills in the decisive set.

Junior setter Sophia Perkins topped Lander with 21 assists and a team-high 19 digs. Freshman libero Emma Efird added a second-best 18 digs. Sophomore Reilly Kuenstler led the team with 4 assisted blocks.

The Bearcats will be back in action in their regular season finale at Horne Arena against USC Aiken on Friday at 6:00 p.m. Seniors Kristin Martindale and Reyonia Whipple will be honored before the game's start.