JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Anderson University volleyball team suffered its third consecutive setback with a 3-1 (25-17, 20-25, 15-25, 17-25) loss, as co-league leading Carson-Newman rallied from a one-set deficit in South Atlantic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Holt Fieldhouse.
Despite the setback, Anderson (7-7, 5-4 SAC) has won six of its last nine matchups versus the Eagles, including four of the last seven regular-season contests. Carson-Newman improved to 12-2 overall and 8-1 in conference action, while winning its 10th decision in its last 11 outings and keeping pace with Wingate at the top of the conference standings.
Redshirt junior Tinsley Hallman paced a balanced Trojan offensive effort with seven kills, while adding 13 digs. Sophomore Serena Jackson and junior middle hitter Jessica Harris each tallied six kills apiece, with Harris posting four total blocks on the afternoon. Junior Priscilla Irizarry narrowly missed her eighth double-double of the season with 19 assists and nine digs. Freshman Emily Conard led all players with 18 digs on the defensive side, with freshman Megan Embry netting 10 digs.
The Trojans raced out to a quick 6-1 lead in the opening set behind the strong serving of Conard and sophomore Marissa Mitter, forcing an early Carson-Newman timeout. Following the pause, the Lady Eagles responded with a 5-1 surge to climb within one, at 7-6. But the Trojans answered with six unanswered points as part of a larger 8-2 outburst to take control of the set. With Mitter again serving, AU opened a double-digit, 19-9, cushion and opened an 11-point advantage on an ace from Irizarry en route to the eight-point win.
Anderson scored the first five points of the second frame and held a five-point advantage on four more occasions and seemed poised to claim its second straight set with a 17-12 lead. But with the Trojans holding the five-point lead, C-N reeled off eight straight points as part of a 10-1 surge to overtake AU and claim a 22-18 advantage. Jackson's third kill of the set pulled the Trojans within three, but Carson-Newman scored three of the final four points to finish the comeback.
The Lady Eagles carried the momentum into the third set and jumped out to an early 3-1 lead. After the Trojans climbed within two, at 10-8, C-N posted a 7-1 run to gain control of the frame and went on to claim the double-digit victory.
The Trojans pushed out to a 6-3 lead to open the fourth set, but were unable to overcome Carson-Newman's .312 hitting percentage in the final frame, as the Lady Eagles knotted the score at nine apiece. AU countered with three straight points to regain the advantage, but C-N responded with 11 unanswered points to garner a 20-12 lead and went on to earn the eight-point win.
The Trojans will step out of conference action for the final
time this season on Wednesday, when they travel to Due West, S.C.,
for a 7 p.m. matchup versus archrival Erskine.
