BREVARD, N.C. – A balanced offensive and defensive attack lifted the Anderson volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-14, 25-20) win past Brevard in South Atlantic Conference action, Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Gymnasium.
Anderson (8-5, 5-1 SAC) has won three straight and four of its last five outings, while Brevard (3-8, 3-4 SAC) has dropped three of its last four.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior Marissa Mitter led the Trojan attack with 12 kills and added four digs. Senior Jessica Harris posted seven kills and four total blocks, with junior Serena Jackson posting six kills on a .545 hitting percentage. Freshman setter Emily Conlin notched a double-double with 34 assists and 11 digs on the afternoon, while sophomore Emily Conard recorded a team-high 14 digs. Sophomores Megan Embry and Jayln Knight each added a dozen digs apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Trojans hit .231 during the set, while racing out to a 12-4 lead and never looked back. Brevard climbed within 17-14 midway through the set, but freshman Kathryn Hughes' third kill of the afternoon slowed the Tornado rally. Anderson went on to close the set on a 5-1 run with Knight serving.
Second Set
The Tornados bounced back by claiming the advantage midway through the set, opening a 14-11 lead. AU rallied within one on a Brevard error and a kill by Hughes, but the Tornados answered by pushing back out to a four-point cushion before the Trojans again trimmed the deficit to just two, at 20-18. But AU was unable to get any closer as Brevard claimed the four-point win.
Third Set
Conlin notched four of her six service aces on the day during the set, while AU turned a 10-9 lead into a double-digit, 21-10, cushion. With AU holding the one-point lead, the Trojans posted an 11-1 scoring outburst to put the set out of reach.
Fourth Set
With Conlin again providing the serves, the Trojans built an early 6-2 lead, only to see Brevard rally to take a brief 9-8 edge. AU answered by going on a 5-1 run to take a lead it would not relinquish. The Tornados pulled within one point on seven occasions, but AU turned them back each time, with the Black and Gold scoring five of the final six points to claim the win.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The Trojans' nine service aces were the third-highest of the season. Conlin's six aces were just one shy of placing the freshman in the top-10 in the school record books for aces in a single match.
NOTABLES
• The win marked the second straight season and just the second time since joining the SAC in 2010 that the Trojans have started the conference slate with a 5-1 mark.
• Conard has tallied double-figure digs in 12 matches this season.
• The match marked the third time this season the Trojans had four players reach double-figure digs.
• Conlin now has four double-doubles on the season.
UP NEXT
Anderson will wrap up its three-match road swing when the Trojans visit Wingate for a 7 p.m. match, Tuesday at Cuddy Arena.
