NEWBERRY, S.C. – Balanced efforts on both offense and defense propelled the Anderson University volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-14, 25-16) South Atlantic Conference win over Newberry, Tuesday night at Eleazer Arena.
"It's tough to beat anybody three times in a season, especially when we had the strange scenario of the last one being at Newberry," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "Fortunately our service game and overall defense helped us weather some close sets early on and allow our offense to have a chance get better as the night went on. We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend for our Friday and Saturday matches."
Anderson improved to 13-4 overall and 7-3 in conference action by claiming its fourth win in five outings and its fifth victory in seven decisions. Newberry (7-11, 2-7 SAC) suffered its third straight loss and has dropped six of its last eight outings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior outside hitter Liliana Kinder led all players with 14 kills, while adding five digs and three block assists, with senior middle hitter Noelle Knutsen notching a dozen kills, along with a solo block and two block assists. Junior Rylie Sargent tallied 10 kills, including five in the opening set, while junior Sadie Kluner posted nine kills. Junior Jaelyn Grimm had yet another all-around night with seven kills, three service aces and three block assists.
Junior setter Jenna Long had a career night by recording her first double-double - with 49 assists, 12 digs and a pair of block assists - and senior Lindsay McCurley added four aces and a season-best 19 digs. Junior outside hitter Tabitha Wheeler recorded 11 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
A pair of kills from Sargent kept the Trojans close early, then three kills from the Greer native gave AU the boost it needed midway through the set. Her fourth kill of the frame gave AU a 13-11 lead after Kinder had earlier given the Black and Gold its first advantage, at 11-10.
But the Wolves battled back to even the score for the for the fifth time (13-13) and again at 14 apiece, before Knutsen's second kill of the set gave AU a lead it would not surrender, at 15-14, with the Parker, Colo., native accounting for three consecutive points during a decisive stretch where AU turned the slim one-point lead into a five-point, 21-16, edge.
The Wolves crept back within two with three consecutive points, then it was Kinder's turn to answer, as she sandwiched kills around a block assist before Kluner knocked down the set point.
Second Set
The second set featured 11 ties and eight lead changes, with Newberry claiming the largest lead of the frame, at 5-1.
Despite getting off to another slow start and hitting just .184, the Trojans had their chances, but were unable to hold off the Wolves down the stretch.
AU used a 6-1 surge to turn the early four-point deficit into a 7-6 lead, with the set turning into a back-and-forth struggle with neither team able to build more than a two-point lead until late in the frame.
Kinder's fourth kill of the set gave AU a 20-18 advantage, but it turned sour from there, as Newberry closed with a 7-2 outburst to claim the three-point win.
Third Set
The Trojans flipped the script in the third frame by taking an early lead, then used 10 unanswered points to turn a narrow, 6-5, edge into a double-digit cushion and never looked back.
Behind a .421 hitting percentage at one point, AU built a 16-5 lead and the Wolves were unable to get any closer than nine in the closing moments.
Fourth Set
An ace from Long that was part of a 5-0 run gave the Trojans their first lead, at 8-7, and later with AU clinging to a 15-14 edge, Knutsen ignited an
8-0 outburst with back-to-back kills and behind Wheeler's serves, the Trojans crafted a commanding, 23-15, advantage before taking the nine-point victory.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Trojans' posted nine service aces for the second straight contest, while matching their second highest tally of the season.
NOTABLES
• Rylie Sargent has reached double-digit kills in three matches this season.
• Lindsay McCurley equaled her season-high with four service aces and came up with a season-high 19 digs.
• Noelle Knutsen has recorded double-figure kills in nine matches this season, including two straight.
• Jenna Long recorded a career-high in both assists (49) and digs (12).
• Two of the last four matches (both AU victories) at Eleazer Arena have gone the full five-set distance.
• Liliana Kinder has posted double-digit kills in nine contests this season, including two straight.
• The Trojans and Wolves were meeting for the third time this season.
• The Trojans and Wolves have met 36 times, with AU holding a 27-9 advantage in the overall series that dates back to the 1999 campaign.
• AU has won 19 of the last 21 meetings with Newberry.
UP NEXT
Anderson is slated for a stretch of four straight games against Mountain Division foes – with two at home and two on the road. The Trojans will play host to league-newcomer Emory & Henry, Friday night at 7 p.m.
