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By: Josh Fuller

COLUMBUS – After three road matches, the Columbus State University women's volleyball team will return home to host a pair of Peach Belt Conference foes.
 
The Lady Cougars will take on USC Aiken on Friday at 7 p.m. inside the Lumpkin Center while facing off against Lander on Saturday. Saturday's match is at 2 p.m. at the CSU Student Recreation Center.
 
Last Time Out
 
The Lady Cougars fell 3-0 on the road at Georgia College on Tuesday. Zoemy Barreto Pereira had 10 kills while hitting .360. It was the junior's second best hitting percentage in PBC play. Senior Megan Frame had nine kills, three blocks and two aces.
 
Cornett on the Weekend
 
"This is a pivotal weekend for us," stated head coach Casey Cornett. "With the season winding down, it is important for us to start playing well and start getting wins to position ourselves in the PBC standings."
 
Series Histories
 
Columbus State's series histories between USC Aiken and Lander are eerily similar. The Lady Cougars are 3-4 against each team after dropping road matches at both schools, while holding a 2-1 record against them in Columbus.
 
About USC Aiken
 
USC Aiken is hitting its stride down the stretch as the Pacers are currently on a 12-match win streak and haven't lost since September 24.  Overall, USCA is 22-3 and tied with Flagler for first place in the PBC with an 11-2 record.
 
Taylor Stratton is one of the best players in the conference as she is second in the league with 4.02 kills per set. She has surpassed 20 kills in a match four times throughout the season.
 
Danielle Mercer leads the PBC in digs per set (5.78) and total digs (538).
 
As a team, USC Aiken leads the conference in kills, assists, digs and points per set. 
 
About Lander
 
Lander is falling in the PBC standings after dropping its last four matches to fall to 18-9 overall and 6-8 in the conference. The Bearcats have won just one set over their past four matches.
 
Halle Dotson is pacing Lander averaging 3.56 kills per set while also totaling 73 blocks this season. She is fourth in the league in kills per set while ranking eighth in the conference in blocks.
 
Both Hannah McManus and Kendall Korte rank inside the top-10 in the PBC in digs per set. McManus averages 4.44 while Korte chips in 4.24 per set.
 
Lander is one of the best blocking teams in the league ranking second with 184 total blocks. The Bearcats also rank second in digs per set.
 
CSU Notes
 
The Lady Cougars have won three straight home matches, including back-to-back PBC wins over UNC Pembroke and Francis Marion to wind down the month of October.
 
Mary McCarty is inching towards cracking the three kills per set mark. The senior is currently averaging 2.99 kills a set, which is the eighth-best average in the league.
 
Frame is one of eight players in the PBC to have a hitting percentage over .300. With her good play of late, Frame is now hitting .301 to lead the Lady Cougars.
 
The Lady Cougars pace the PBC with 170 service aces and have recorded 10 or more aces in seven matches this season. CSU has already surpassed its ace total from last year.