ANDERSON, S.C. – Paced by junior Marissa Mitter's 16 kills and season-high 20 digs, the Anderson University volleyball team celebrated Homecoming by defeating Brevard, 3-1 (25-22, 14-25, 25-17, 25-14) in South Atlantic Conference play, Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson swept the season series with the Tornados, while improving to 15-11 overall and 11-7 in the league with its sixth win in eight outings. Brevard fell to 5-20 overall and 4-14 in the conference with its third consecutive setback.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Mitter notched her 15th double-double of the season after recording her 19th contest with double-figure kills. Freshman Kathryn Hughes added 11 kills and five digs, with Rachel Burts posting 10 kills and five total blocks. Freshman Emily Conlin handed out 38 assists and came up with 16 digs for her sixth straight double-double. Sophomore Emily Conard tallied 16 digs, with classmate Jayln Knight adding eight digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Mitter and junior Serena Jackson combined for 11 kills in the opening frame, while the Trojans recorded a .350 hitting percentage and used a late surge to claim the win.
The set was tied five times early, with a kill from Mitter snapping a 9-9 deadlock and giving the Black and Gold a lead they would not relinquish. The Trojans posted three unanswered points as part of a 5-2 surge and later claimed their largest lead of the set, at 20-16. The Tornados pulled within 21-20, but Jackson sparked another 3-0 run with a kill and AU held on for the victory.
Second Set
The Tornados reeled off five consecutive points as part of a 12-3 outburst to open the second frame. AU fell behind by nine on three occasions before trimming the deficit to 16-11, but Brevard went on to build a double-digit 23-13 advantage before taking the 11-point decision on the strength of a .350 hitting percentage.
Third Set
AU bounced back in the third frame by breaking a 3-3 tie on Mitter's first kill of the set. The Trojans steadily built an eight-point cushion (14-6) and maintained the margin the rest of the way.
Fourth Set
The Trojans carried the momentum into the fourth set, snapping a 6-6 tie on Hughes' second kill of the frame. With the score at 12-11 in favor of the Black and Gold, the Trojans closed the set with a 13-3 outburst to claim the decisive, double-digit win.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The Trojans moved four games above .500 for the first time this season.
NOTABLES
• Mitter has posted 15 double-doubles this season.
• Mitter has averaged 14 kills over the last four contests.
• Mitter has reached double-figure kills on 19 occasions, including each of the last four outings.
• Burts has recorded double-figure kills in 11 matches this season, including 10 of the last 12.
• Hughes has averaged 7.9 kills per match over the last nine contests, while reaching double-figure kills in six matches on the year.
• Emily Conlin has posted at least 30 assists in 21 matches this season and has reached the 40+ assist plateau on a dozen occasions.
• Conlin has six straight double-doubles and 14 on the season.
• Emily Conard has recorded double-figure digs in 24 contests this season, including five straight and 19 of the Trojans' last 20 outings.
UP NEXT
The Trojans have a five-day layoff, then open their final road swing of the regular season Friday at Tusculum.
