RALEIGH, NC – The William Peace University volleyball team was back in action at the Hermann Athletic Center on Saturday, as the Pacers picked up a pair of conference wins against South Division opponents Huntingdon and LaGrange.

WPU swept Huntingdon to start their day before beating LaGrange, 3-1. The Pacers improve to 16-7 overall with a 8-4 record in the USA South, which currently puts them third in the North Division. 

The Pacers squeaked out a win in their opening set of the day, bouncing back from a slow start for a 29-27 win. Huntingdon (6-16, 0-8 USAS) wasn't able to keep up the rest of the way, as WPU closed them out, 25-14 and 25-20.

Laura Bland posted a team high 13 kills to go along with a block solo and a block assist. Tempestt Frazier finished with 11 kills at a .391 clip and ranks first in the conference for hitting percentage by a comfortable margin. Merica Ivey recorded eight kills as well as a pair of block assists and a block solo, while Liana Solomon racked up 30 assists along with five digs, four kills and a service ace. Carson Williams led the team with 25 digs and three assists. Breanna Cary and Maddie Irvin reached double-digit kills as well with 11 and 10, respectively.

In their second match of the day against LaGrange (8-14, 1-8 USAS, the Pacers took control with a 25-18 win in the first. WPU pulled ahead, 2-0, with a 26-24 win in the second, but LaGrange extended the match with a 26-24 victory of their own in the third. The Pacers hit their stride in the fourth though, jumping out to an 18-8 lead and finishing the Panthers off, 25-16.

Bland finished with 15 kills, three block assists and a block solo, while Frazier added 10 kills and five block assists. Lindsay Alford had nine kills, five digs and three block assists. Ivey tacked on eight more kills and three block assists.  Solomon recorded a team high 26 assists, seven digs, six kills and a pair of service aces. Kennedey Paine chipped in with 19 assists, four kills and two digs. Williams led the Pacers defense with 22 digs.

The WPU volleyball team will be back at the Hermann Athletic Center this Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. hosting the Fighting Squirrels of Mary Baldwin. 

For the latest news and updates from William Peace University Athletics, please visit: http://gopeacepacers.com/.