ANDERSON, S.C. – In a battle between two of the top three teams in the South Atlantic Conference standings, the Anderson volleyball team set a new school record with its 12th straight win, as the Trojans blanked Queens, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-15) Tuesday night at the Abney Athletic Center.
"Coach Moran and I were pleased with how the team executed the game plan," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "We were in good position at the net with our front line of defense and really slowed them down there. Our servers did a solid job of being aggressive and getting them out of system. That helps any defensive effort."
Anderson improved to 17-3 overall and 11-1 in conference play with its 11th consecutive home win dating back to last season, while earning a season sweep of the Royals with its third win in four meetings with Queens. The Royals fell to 15-5 overall and 9-4 in league play, while seeing its win streak halted at eight.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior outside hitter Jayln Knight led all players with 14 kills and added 15 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. The native of Redlands, Calif. posted a .519 hitting percentage while not committing an error in 27 swings. Senior outside hitter Marissa Mitter notched her ninth double-double of the campaign behind 10 kills and 11 digs. Fellow senior Serena Jackson knocked down nine kills and tallied four blocks on the night, with senior Rachel Burts recording eight kills on the strength of a .700 hitting percentage – the third-highest mark in school history.
Sophomore setter Emily Conlin dished out a match-high 45 assists and came up with eight digs, while junior libero Emily Conard tallied a match-high 17 digs.
"Once again, Emily [Conlin] proved why she is a first-team all-conference setter," noted Hay. "Fifteen assists per set is just amazing."
Freshman Casey Tarvin led the Queens attack with eight kills, with sophomore Mallory Swarts coming up with 10 digs. Sydney Kunz, the reigning SAC Specialist of the Week, handed out 19 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Royals rattled off three straight points to turn an early 2-1 AU lead into a 4-2 Queens' advantage. But with the Royals holding a 6-5 edge, AU posted three unanswered points as part of a 5-1 surge to recapture the lead and claimed a 10-7 advantage on Jackson's third kill of the night.
However, the Royals countered with three consecutive points to even the score for the fifth and final time, at 10 apiece. But the Trojans refused to surrender the lead, as Jackson sparked a 5-0 run with another kill. Queens chipped away and got as close as 16-15, before the Trojans rebuilt a five-point lead (21-16) on Knight's fifth kill of the frame.
With the Trojans holding a 24-17 lead, Queens held off set point twice before Mitter closed the set with her third kill.
Second Set
The second frame was close early, as Queens grabbed a 7-5 lead before the Trojans responded with nine unanswered points as part of a 10-1 scoring outburst to take a seven-point lead. Conlin sparked the rally with a kill and added a pair of aces during the comeback.
Following a Queens timeout, Jackson's kill gave AU a double-digit, 20-10, cushion and the Trojans claimed the double-digit win on an attack error by the Royals.
Third Set
The Royals scored the first point of the final set, but it was their only lead of the frame, as AU knotted the score on a service error and posted back-to-back blocks to take a lead it would not relinquish.
The Trojans steadily built a nine-point lead and while Queens climbed within three, at 18-15, AU held off the challenge and went on to take the second-straight double-digit win.
NOTES
• The Trojans surpassed the '04 team for the longest win streak in school history. That squad reeled off 11 straight wins.
• Entering tonight's contest, the Trojans ranked seventh in the nation by holding opponents to a .107 hitting percentage.
• AU also ranked 16th nationally with 13.30 assists per contest.
• Conlin ranks seventh in the country with 11.68 assists per set.
UP NEXT
Unbeaten and 21st-ranked Wingate invades the Abney Center on Homecoming Weekend. First-serve is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.
"Wingate presents a huge challenge for us once again," said Hay. "It should be a fun match come Friday night. We hope everyone can make it out."
