ANDERSON, S.C. – Behind its fifth-highest hitting percentage of the season, Anderson blanked Catawba, 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-18) in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action Friday night at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson (18-11, 14-7 SAC), which has already earned a berth in next week's conference tournament, won its fifth straight decision and ninth of its last 11 outings while earning a split of the season series. Catawba (16-11, 13-8 SAC)
had its win streak halted at seven.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior Marissa Mitter led all players with 13 kills on the night, while adding 14 digs for her 18th double-double of the season. Rachel Burts tallied 12 kills and five total blocks, while freshman Kathryn Hughes added nine kills and a pair of digs. Junior Serena Jackson notched seven kills and three block assists, with Freshman Emily Conlin handing out 45 assists and recording 10 digs. Sophomore Emily Conard posted a team-high 22 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
After falling behind 6-2 early in the set, the Trojans posted a 6-1 run to take just their second lead of the frame, at 8-7. But the advantage was brief, as the Indians countered with an identical 6-1 surge of their own to reclaim a four-point lead. After the Trojans knotted the score at 14 apiece, senior Allison Gaminde sparked a run of five unanswered points by the Black and Gold that gave AU a lead they would not surrender. After the Trojans claimed a 24-17 lead, Catawba held off set point four times before Hughes knocked down the final point with her sixth kill of the set.
Second Set
The Trojans posted a .333 hitting percentage, while opening up a quick 8-2 lead. AU doubled up the Indians, 14-7, and built a double-digit cushion, at 18-8, while maintaining the advantage the rest of the way.
Third Set
AU trailed early, at 3-2, before going on a 9-3 scoring outburst to open a five-point edge and the Indians would get no closer than three through the remainder of the set.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
With the Trojans' next victory they will equal the 2013 team for the second-most wins in a season since joining the South Atlantic Conference for the 2010 season. The 2014 squad notch 25 wins en route to the NCAA Southeast Regional.
NOTABLES
• Conlin has recorded straight double-doubles and has 17 on the season.
• Conlin has posted at least 30 assists in 24 matches this season and has reached the 40+ assist plateau on 14 occasions.
• Conlin has moved into sixth place in the school record books for assists in a single season with 1,159 and trails former Trojan standout Leslie Nodine (2001) by 121 assists for the fifth spot.
• Conard has recorded double-figure digs in 27 matches this season, including eight straight and 22 of the Trojans' last 23 matches.
• Mitter has recorded 18 double-doubles this season, including five straight.
• Mitter has reached double-figure kills on 22 occasions, including each of the last seven outings.
• Rachel Burts has recorded double-figure kills in 12 matches this season, including 11 of the last 15.
• Burts has moved into eighth place in the school record books for total blocks in a single season with 117 and needs seven more to surpass former standout Tiffany Rowe (2010) for the seventh spot.
• Burts has equaled former Trojan great Ashley Prince for second place on the AU record books with 83 block assists on the season and needs 19 to surpass Hailey Pittman (2014) for the top spot.
UP NEXT
Anderson will recognize seniors Allison Gaminde and Jessica Harris prior to Saturday afternoon's match with Queens University of Charlotte at the Abney Center. First-serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
