HICKORY, N.C. – Paced by junior Marissa Mitter's seventh double-double of the season and senior Allison Gaminde's season-high 12 kills, the Anderson volleyball team opened a three-match road swing with a 3-2 (17-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-27, 15-10) win over defending South Atlantic Conference Tournament Champion Lenoir-Rhyne, Friday night at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.
Anderson (7-5, 4-1 SAC) overcame a season-high 41 errors to win its third match in four outings, while handing Lenoir-Rhyne (4-8, 2-3) its third consecutive home loss and halting the Bears' two-match win streak.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Mitter posted a match-high 16 kills, while adding 15 digs and a pair of service aces. Gaminde tallied a season-best 12 kills and four blocks, with junior Serena Jackson posting nine kills and two blocks. Freshman Emily Conlin, the conference leader in assists, dished out a season-high 55 assists and came up with seven digs. Sophomore Mergan Embry added 10 digs on the night and classmate Emily Conard tallied a match-best 28 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Trojans were unable to overcome 10 errors and hit just -.028 in the opening frame, as the first set featured six three early lead changes. AU built an early 6-3 lead, but Lenoir-Rhyne reeled off four consecutive points to take its first lead of the set. The Trojans were unable to regain the advantage, with Lenoir-Rhyne using a 7-1 run to break open the tight contest and claim an 18-12 edge, while pushing out to a nine-point lead down the stretch.
Second Set
After surrendering the first point, AU rattled off seven unanswered points with Conlin serving as part of an 8-3 run to gain a lead it would not give up. After the Trojans pushed out to a 22-15 cushion on senior Rachel Burts' first block of the night, the Bears trimmed AU's lead to just one. But Anderson capitalized on back-to-back L-R errors and Mitter knocked down a kill for the final point.
Third Set
After 10 ties and five lead changes, a late surge ignited by sophomore Jayln Knight lifted the Trojans to the win. With Gaminde fueling an early run, AU claimed a 5-2 lead, only to see Lenoir-Rhyne respond with a 6-2 surge to claim its first lead of the set. Neither squad was able to build more than a two-point lead and with the score knotted at 17 apiece, Knight sparked the Black and Gold by posting her first kill of the match. Mitter recorded her two aces in the clutch, as AU closed the set with an 8-2 outburst.
Fourth Set
The Trojans constructed a 16-11 advantage, with senior Jessica Harris posting two of her seven kills on the night in the run. But Lenoir-Rhyne countered with four unanswered points before Mitter snapped the outburst with a kill. With the Trojans holding a 20-16 edge, L-R again posted four straight points to even the score at 20-20.
The two teams battled on even terms and with the score knotted at 25-25, the Bears capitalized on two straight miscues to capture the victory.
Fifth Set
Lenoir-Rhyne carried the momentum into the final frame, but the Trojans rallied to claim a narrow, 10-8, lead on a block by Jackson and a kill from Mitter. The Bears knotted the score at 10 apiece before AU responded with five unanswered point to claim the win, with Mitter knocking down three kills.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
The 55 assists handed out by Conlin were just four shy of equaling the 10th-highest total in school history.
NOTABLES
• The Trojans also overcame a season-low .108 hitting percentage.
• Conard leads the SAC in digs and has tallied double-figure digs in all but one of the Trojans' matches this season.
• The Trojans' 61 kills marked a season high.
• Conard has totaled double-figure digs on 36 occasions over the past two seasons.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will look to build momentum on Saturday when they visit Brevard. First-serve is slated for 2 p.m. at Boshamer Gymnasium.
