FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Shannon Byers and freshman Emily Maassen each pounded out 14 kills to lead USC Aiken to a marathon five-set (25-15, 20-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-11) victory over Francis Marion University, Friday night (Oct. 15) in Peach Belt Conference women's volleyball action.

USCA improves to 8-11 overall and 5-4 in the Peach Belt, while the Patriots (13-8, 3-5) see their three-match winning streak snapped.  FMU will play host to Lander University on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Pacers took an early lead in the final set, and saw Francis Marion creep to within 11-9 and 14-11 before recording the decisive and final point.

Freshman Riley Forester led Francis Marion with 12 kills, while senior Mallory Eggert added 11 kills.  Senior libero Kelsie Deaton tallied a career-high equaling 31 digs, a figure she set against Lander as a freshman in 2007.  Freshman setter Nicole Bennett dished out 43 assists and dug up 16 balls.

Byers also registered 19 digs and Maassen compiled five blocks. USCA sophomore setter Ashley Farwell handed out 26 assists and dug up 14 balls, while sophomore libero Samantha Lukralle totaled 29 digs and served three aces.

The two squads traded relatively easy wins over the opening two sets.  FMU used a late back-row kill to secure a 25-22 win in set three, while USCA scored the final three points of set four to win 25-20 and knot the match at 2-2.