NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College volleyball team won its home opener Tuesday night against the Lady Pacers of USC Aiken, 3-0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-23).

Priscila Sales (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) was Newberry's best weapon of the night with a match high nine kills and eight digs. Brianna Blakely (Houston, Texas) also played efficiently with a game high 22 assists and a .500 attack percentage. The top player for the Lady Pacers was Stefanie Durham (Easley, S.C.) with nine kills.

There was much anticipation surrounding the match as the Rowdy Reds came out in full force to support the scarlet and gray. Both teams came out of the gate strong as they were tied at 7-all early in the first set. Soon after, costly errors by the Lady Pacers left the door open for Newberry to take the lead. Newberry went on a 10-3 run in the middle of the set with the help of some very timely kills by Lorena Maia (Belo Horizonte, Brazil).

A seven point lead was enough to hold off the competition and the scarlet and gray would go on to take the first set, 25-13. Efficiency ultimately won the set for Newberry as NC had a team attack percentage of .318 while USC Aiken only hit -.148.

The second set would prove to be a difficult one as the Lady Pacers corrected some of their first set mistakes. Newberry was caught off guard as the opposition went up by the score of 1-7. The scarlet and gray showed perseverance from then on but could not take the lead until late in the set.

It was a dramatic set for Newberry fans as USC Aiken had a three point lead with only one point to win the set at 24-21. The scarlet and gray never quit and rattled off five straight points including a momentum changing ace by Blakely. The defensive play of Kara Harris (Grandview, Texas) aided Newberry greatly in the second set as she tallied a team high six digs.

Both teams came out in the third set determined to win. Newberry opened the set with a 6-1 advantage but the Lady Pacers battled back and tied the score at 12-all. From then on it was a close set, as neither team could take more than a two point lead.

In the end, Newberry's offense was too much for the Lady Pacers to handle as Sales, Maia and Kember Lichtie (Amarillo, Texas) each earned kills in the final seven points. Sales had a dominant third set scoring four kills on five attacks.

With the win, Newberry improved its record to 3-1 overall. Next up for the scarlet and gray will be a match at Belmont Abbey this Thursday at 7 p.m. NC returns home next Tuesday, Sept. 9, for a match against Lander at 7 p.m.