ANDERSON, S.C. – Sophomore Regan Duty, senior Jayln Knight and sophomore Hailee Wilhelm combined for 29 kills, as the Anderson University volleyball team wrapped up its four-match homestand by sweeping Mars Hill, 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-10) Tuesday night at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson (21-2, 12-1 SAC) swept the regular-season series with the Lions, while stretching its home win streak to 24 matches. Mars Hill (13-5, 7-3 SAC) saw its win streak halted at six matches.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Knight and Wilhelm shared match-high honors with 10 kills apiece, with Knight adding 11 digs for a double-double. The native of Redlands, Calif., posted a season-high .556 hitting percentage while not committing an error in 18 attack attempts. Wilhelm garnered the 10 kills in 21 attempts, while committing just one miscue for a .429 hitting percentage. Junior Emily Conlin narrowly missed capturing her 13th double-double of the season with 29 assists and nine digs. She also tallied a season-high six service aces, including four in the second set.
Freshman Meghan DeVaux came up with a match-best 15 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The opening frame featured nine ties and four lead changes, with neither team able to build more than a one-point lead until the Trojans used a substantial, 13-2, scoring outburst to snap an 11-11 deadlock and take control of the set. Knight helped fuel the breakout with an ace and a pair of kills, with Wilhelm also notching two kills during the surge.
With AU holding a 22-13 lead, the Lions scored six straight points to draw within three, but Wilhelm stalled Mars Hill's rally with her fifth kill of the set and the Trojans capitalized on a pair of Lions' errors to claim the win.
Second Set
Mars Hill scored the first point of the second set, but the Trojans countered with a huge 16-3 run that was triggered in part by Conlin's three aces in the early going. DeVaux and senior Emily Conard also posted aces, while Duty knocked down three kills to help fuel the surge.
The Lions climbed within single digits, at 17-8, but would get no closer as AU pushed back out to a 12-point advantage four more times before taking the double-digit victory.
Third Set
Hannah Worsham snapped an early 2-2 deadlock with a kill to give the Trojans a lead they would not relinquish, as they steadily built a 17-9 cushion.
With senior Megan Embry serving, the Trojans closed the set by scoring the final eight points, as Knight and Wilhelm each posted two kills apiece.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
Led by Emily Conlin's six service aces, the Trojans posted a season-high 13 aces on the night.
NOTABLES
• AU extended its home win streak to 24 matches.
• Jayln Knight has notched 10 double-doubles on the season, including two straight.
• Regan Duty has posted 52 kills in the last five matches.
• Hailee Wilhelm has recorded 79 kills in the last seven matches (11.3/match), including 21 in the last two contests.
• Five of the Trojans' remaining seven regular-season contests are on the road.
UP NEXT
Anderson is scheduled to visit Carson-Newman Friday night, with first-serve set for 7 p.m. in Jefferson City, Tenn. AU defeated the Lady Eagles, 3-1 (25-18, 25-9, 28-30, 25-23) in late September at the Abney Center.
