ANDERSON, S.C. – A balanced attack lifted the Anderson University volleyball team to a perfect record at home on the season, as the Trojans swept Lincoln Memorial, 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-14) in South Atlantic Conference action, Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson improved to 24-3 overall and 17-1 in conference play with its school- record 19th straight victory and its 15th consecutive home win dating back to last season. Lincoln Memorial slipped to 13-13 overall and 8-10 in the league.
Senior Rachel Burts led all players with eight kills on a .438 hitting percentage and added three blocks on the afternoon. Junior Jayln Knight posted seven kills and eight digs, with senior Serena Jackson tallying six kills behind a .429 hitting percentage, while chipping in three block assists. Sophomore Kathryn Hughes recorded six kills, three digs and three block assists, while senior Marissa Mitter tallied six kills, nine digs and three aces.
Sophomore setter Emily Conlin recorded a double-double with 29 assists and 10 digs, with junior libero Emily Conard adding seven digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Lincoln Memorial scored the first two points of the match, but the Trojans pulled even at 4-4 and took their first lead on an attack error by the Lady Railsplitters. The miscue prompted seven unanswered points by the Trojans as part of a 13-2 scoring outburst that broke it open for the Black and Gold. With Megan Embry serving for eight of the points and recording an ace, Burts added a pair of kills during the deciding run that gave AU a 15-6 cushion.
On the strength of a .556 hitting percentage, the Trojans built and held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Second Set
The second frame featured 10 ties and five lead changes before Knight's second kill of the set snapped a 12-12 deadlock and gave AU a lead it would not surrender.
The Trojans used a 7-1 scoring run to claim a 20-13 advantage and take control of the frame. LMU later scored three straight points as part of a 5-1 spurt to trim AU's lead to four, but would get no closer.
Third Set
The third and deciding set was knotted just once early, before the Trojans took an 11-3 lead and gradually pushed out to a double-digit, 18-8, advantage and held the margin until the final moments.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
AU has recorded 24 wins in a single season for the fourth time in program history.
NOTES
• The Trojans have clinched at least the No. 2 seed in the SAC Tournament later this month and will host a quarterfinal round on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
• AU was a perfect 11-0 at home during the regular season and has won 15 consecutive home matches dating back to last season.
• The 2008 squad also won 24 contests. The 2004 and 2014 teams share the school record for wins in a single season, with 25.
• The Trojans have recorded 19 sweeps on the season and lost just one set at home – to Wingate.
• Conlin has 14 double-doubles on the season. Mitter has a dozen double-doubles and Knight has four.
UP NEXT
Anderson will close out the regular season with a two-match road swing, beginning at Tusculum, Friday night. First-serve versus the Pioneers is set for 7 p.m.
