AIKEN, S.C. - Led by double-doubles from Abby Hall (17 kills, 15 digs) and Jordan Holcomb (15 kills, 14 digs), the 12th-ranked Embry-Riddle volleyball team defeated NCAA II South Carolina - Aiken in a hard-fought five set match (25-23, 16-25, 25-20, 27-29, 15-11) on Saturday afternoon. The win moves ERAU's record to 19-1 overall and extends the Eagles' win streak to 16 matches, while USC-Aiken falls to 7-9 on the season.

The Blue and Gold dug themselves an early hole, falling behind 6-0 in the first set. But they would rebound, using an 8-0 run that included two kills from Gloria Kemp to take a 14-12 lead. The Pacers regained the lead, 20-18, on a pair of ERAU attack errors. With the set tied at 23, USC-Aiken missed a serve and Taylor Martin put down a kill to give Embry-Riddle the first set, 25-23.

As they had in the first set, the Eagles found themselves playing catch-up right from the start, as the Pacers built an early 9-3 lead. A kill from Kemp brought ERAU to within three at 13-10, but a quick 3-0 run reestablished a six-point advantage for USC-Aiken. The Pacers would go on to take the second set, 25-16, tying the match at one set apiece.

After the intermission, Embry-Riddle came out looking much stronger than they did in the second set, jumping out to an early 7-2 lead in set three. After USC-Aiken trimmed the margin to just one (9-8), the Eagles went on a 7-1 run to take a seven-point lead (16-9). The Pacers would again mount a comeback, pulling to within three (23-20), but two Pacer errors ended the set at 25-20 in favor of ERAU.

In set four, USC-Aiken strung together six straight points to build a 6-1 lead in the early going. Hall put down a kill and followed up with a solo block to bring ERAU to within three points (13-10), and a service ace from Martin tied the set at 17-17. The Pacers had an opportunity to put the set away serving with a 24-23 lead, but Emily Maassen's serve sailed long, tying things up at 24-24. After USC-Aiken successfully fended off three match points, a kill from Maassen gave the Pacers the set, 29-27, knotting the match up at two sets apiece.

In the fifth and deciding set, the Blue and Gold once again made things difficult, falling behind 4-0. But the Eagles once again showed their resiliency, fighting back to tie the set at 5-5 on a Hall kill. With the score tied at 8-8, ERAU went on a quick 4-0 run that began and ended with kills from Martin, giving the Eagles a commanding 12-8 lead. The two teams exchanged sideouts for the rest of the set, with setter Adriana Vazquez picking up the match-ending kill, just her second of the match, giving the Eagles the set, 15-11, and the match, 3-2.

Hall led all players with 17 kills to go along with 15 digs, while Holcomb added 15 kills, 14 digs, and five blocks (two solo). Kemp also reached double-figures in kills with 10, while Martin had 12 digs and eight kills. Vazquez recorded a match-high 46 assists and Nina Kontrec registered a match-high 28 digs.

The Pacers were led by Maassen's 12 kills and seven blocks. Samantha Lukralle tallied a team-high 25 digs, while Ashley Farwell notched 22 assists and 22 digs.

The Eagles will take next weekend off before traveling to Savannah, Ga. for the 2010 SCAD Invitational on Oct. 15-16. ERAU will face off against Lee (Tenn.) and Shorter (Ga.) on Friday, Oct. 15, before battling Mobile (Ala.) and Bellevue (Neb.) on Oct. 16. In the latest Tachikara-NAIA Coaches' Poll, Lee is ranked No. 2, Bellevue is No. 21, and Shorter received votes. Embry-Riddle is currently ranked No. 12.