CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Anderson University volleyball team wrapped up a two-match South Atlantic Conference road swing with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 16-25, 20-25) loss to Queens University of Charlotte, Saturday afternoon at Curry Arena.
Anderson slipped to 9-9 overall and 6-5 in conference play with its third consecutive setback, while Queens improved to 11-4 overall and 8-2 in the league with its seventh win in eight outings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior Rachel Burts led the Trojans for the second straight match with 12 kills, while junior Marissa Mitter and freshman Kathryn Hughes each added nine kills on the afternoon. Freshman Emily Conlin posted a double-double with 41 assists and 14 digs, with sophomores Emily Conard and Jayln Knight recording 11 digs and 10 digs, respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Anderson grabbed a quick 7-3 lead with Burts posting three of her five kills in the frame in the early going. The margin of difference proved to be the largest by either team in the set, with the Royals snapping an 18-18 deadlock by posting a 4-1 run and taking an advantage they would not surrender until the final moments. The Trojans were ultimately unable to overcome the Royals' .366 hitting percentage.
After Queens claimed a 23-21 edge, the Trojans capitalized on back-to-back errors by the Royals to even the score at 23 apiece, but the home team countered with a kill and a service ace to seal the win.
Second Set
The Trojans rebounded in the second frame by using an 8-1 scoring outburst that turned a narrow 4-3 lead into a 12-4 Anderson advantage. Hughes led the surge with three kills, while senior Allison Gaminde helped fuel the run with a block assist and a kill. AU doubled up the Royals at 16-8 on a Queens' error and built a double-digit 20-10 cushion on a kill from Burts. The Royals climbed within five twice, but would get no closer.
Third Set
The Royals scored the first six points of the frame and went on to take a double-digit, 23-13, lead late in the set en route to the decisive win.
Fourth Set
The Trojans led just once, at 2-1, with Queens pushing out to an early 8-5 edge and building its largest lead (17-10) on an ace. After the Royals claimed another seven-point lead at 20-13, AU trimmed the deficit to five on two occasions and held off set point four times, but was unable to overcome the Royals.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
Hughes' nine kills equaled her third-highest tally of the season.
NOTABLES
• Burts has posted double-figure kills in four consecutive matches.
• Conlin has eight double-doubles on the season.
• Burts leads the league with 22 solo blocks, 51 block assists and 73 total blocks.
• Jackson and Burts are tied for fifth in the SAC with their .292 hitting percentages.
• Conlin has recorded at least 30 digs in 15 matches.
• Conlin has reached 40+ assists on 10 occasions.
• Mitter has 10 double-doubles on the season.
• Mitter has reached double-figure kills in 13 matches this season.
• Conard has posted double-figure digs in 17-of-18 matches this year.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will look to get back in the win column when they open a four-match homestand by playing host to league-leading Wingate on Friday. First- serve versus the Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m.
