AIKEN, S.C. �  The Newberry Lady Indians fell 3-1 (30-25, 27-30, 30-21, 31-29) to USC-Aiken tonight in volleyball action.  The loss is the first non-conference loss of the season for the Lady Indians who drop to 15-7 on the year.  The Pacers, who are ranked #7 in the South Region, move to 19-4 on the season. 

Game one began with the two teams trading points.  The game saw its seventh tie when Newberry leveled the score at 9-9.  USCA then scored the next four points to take a 13-9 lead.  Newberry would close the gap to two points at 19-17, however that is as close as they would get.  USCA gradually extended their lead and won game one 30-25.

The second game was even tighter than the first.  Newberry and USCA were tied 16 times in the game with the final tie at 26-26.  Newberry scored the next three points to put the game out of reach.  The Lady Indians evened the match at 1-1 by taking game two 30-27.

USCA opened the third game with a 6-1 run.  Newberry would chip away at the Pacers� lead and cut it to three at 18-15.  However, USCA responded with an 8-2 run, including five straight points, to take a 26-17 lead.  That proved to be all the Pacers needed to take game three by a score of 30-21. 

The Lady Indians grabbed an early lead in game four hoping to force a fifth game.  Holding a slim one point lead at 9-8, the Lady Indians scored four straight points to extend the lead to five.  The Pacers would answer with a 9-2 run to take the lead back at 17-15.  The Lady Indians regained the lead at 19-18 and stretched it to four points at 24-20.  USCA again had an answer and tied the game at 24-24.  Newberry scored the next three points only to see the Pacers tied the game again at 28-28.  The Lady Indians earned a game point at 29-28.  However, Newberry was unable to finish off the game and conceded the next three points and subsequently the match.

Priscilla Sales (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) and Lorena Maia (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) each recorded a double-double for the Lady Indians.  Sales had a match high 17 kills and a team high 13 digs.  Maia added 15 kills and tied Sales for a team high 13 digs.  Maia also had a team high three service aces.  Kilee Ruppe dished out a match high 38 assists for Newberry.  Kara Harris recorded 10 kills on the night.  Christy Stegall added 12 digs to the Lady Indians� defensive efforts.

Newberry returns to home this weekend for two pivotal South Atlantic Conference matches.  The Lady Indians will host Tusculum on Friday evening at 7 p.m.  Newberry will then take on Lincoln Memorial on Saturday afternoon at noon.