HARTSVILLE, S.C. – A balanced offensive attack lifted the Anderson University volleyball team to a 3-1 (26-24, 25-23, 19-25, 25-20) win over Coker in the South Atlantic Conference opener for both teams, Thursday night at the DeLoach Center.
Anderson improved to 3-1 by handing the Cobras their first loss of the season, while extending its win streak over the Cobras to 13 matches. Coker slipped to 4-1 on the year.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior Marissa Mitter posted her third double-double in four matches, with a season-high 21 kills and 16 digs, while senior Allison Gaminde added a season-high eight kills, three digs and a pair of blocks. Freshman Emily Conlin, the reigning SAC Specialist of the Week dished out a season-best 50 assists and recorded nine digs, with sophomore Megan Embry coming up with 14 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After holding off the Cobras for the narrow 26-24 win in the opening set, the Trojans rallied from a four-point deficit midway through the second frame, with a pair of scores from sophomore Jayln Knight sparking the rally and kills from senior Jessica Harris and Mitter capping a surge by the Black and Gold. With the score knotted at 22 apiece, Knight and Embry combined on back-to-back kills to give AU a lead it would not relinquish.
A -.089 hitting percentage with 16 miscues and a seven-point run by the Cobras proved too much for Anderson to overcome in the third set, as Coker claimed the six-point win. The final set saw the Trojans bolt out to an 8-3 advantage and again double up the Cobras at 14-7 on a kill by Mitter, then hold off a late charge by Coker. After the Cobras climbed within two, a block by AU senior Rachel Burts lifted the Trojans to a three-point edge and AU went on for the five-point victory.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE GAME
The Trojans overcame 10 service errors and eight receiving errors to claim the win.
NOTES
- The Trojans improved to 26-7 versus the Cobras over the past 19 seasons.
- AU posted a .324 hitting percentage to survive the second set.
- The Trojans committed a season-high 31 errors on the night.
- Freshman Rachel Mackey now has 12 kills in the last two contests.
UP NEXT
Anderson will get back on the court quickly, as the Trojans continue the road swing at the Francis Marion Invitational. AU is slated to square off against UNC Pembroke and the host Patriots on Friday and face Emmanuel and Barton Saturday.
