ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson volleyball team posted a season-high hitting percentage for the second time in less than 24 hours, as the Trojans blanked Mars Hill, 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-11) in South Atlantic Conference action, Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson (14-3, 8-1 SAC) won its ninth straight decision, equaling the 2002 Trojans for the second-longest win streak in school history and earned its third consecutive win over the Lions. Mars Hill slipped to 4-9 overall and 3-7 in league play, while suffering its first loss in four outings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior outside hitter Marissa Mitter led all players with 14 kills behind a .520 hitting percentage, as the native of Redondo Beach, Calif., committed just one error in 25 attempts. She added a season-high 21 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Fellow senior Serena Jackson posted nine kills with just one miscue in 16 attacks for a .500 hitting percentage and recorded five block assists. Junior outside hitter Jayln Knight tallied eight kills and 10 digs, with sophomore outside hitter Kathryn Hughes also notching eight kills. Sophomore setter Emily Conlin dished out 40 assists and earned her 10th double-double of the year by coming up with 10 digs. Junior libero Emily Conard added 14 digs on the afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The opening frame featured seven ties and four lead changes, with the Trojans rallying from an early five-point deficit to claim the five-point win.
Mars Hill snapped an early 3-3 deadlock with five straight points, while AU countered by taking advantage of Lion miscues to answer with five consecutive points and even it up at eight apiece. The two teams then traded 3-0 runs before MHU grabbed a 13-11 edge. AU responded with four straight points, including a pair of kills from Mitter, to claim its first lead since the opening point of the set and claimed a 15-13 lead.
The Lions answered with three straight points again, before Mitter evened the score at 16-16 and Jackson posted her second kill of the afternoon to give the Trojans the lead for good. Knight's second kill boosted AU's lead to 20-17 and after the Lions cut the lead to one, the Trojans captured the win behind a 5-1 surge.
Second Set
AU raced out to a quick 6-1 lead with Jackson and Mitter combining for five kills. After the Trojans built a 13-6 cushion, Mars Hill climbed within three before AU steadily pushed out to a late 23-14 advantage and took the win on back-to-back kills from Mitter and Jackson.
Third Set
After four early ties, the Trojans broke a 4-4 deadlock with a 13-3 outburst to take a double-digit, 17-7, lead on consecutive kills by Hughes.
Mars Hill posted two straight to trim AU's lead to eight, but the Lions would get no closer as the Trojans closed the match with four unanswered points.
ANDERSON STATS OF THE DAY
The Trojans posted a season-high .372 hitting percentage, while holding the Lions to a .062 hitting percentage.
NOTES
• AU earned its third straight sweep and its 11th of the season.
• The Trojans have matched the 2002 team for the second-longest win streak in program history.
• The 2004 squad holds the school record with 11 consecutive victories.
• In the latest NCAA rankings, the Trojans are 12th in the nation by holding opponents to a .114 hitting percentage and rank 21st nationally with 12.98 assists per set.
• Mitter has 1,067 career kills and needs 10 kills to surpass Michelle Yarborough (1999-2002) for ninth place in the school record books.
• Jackson is in 11th place in the AU record books with 181 career blocks and needs 41 total blocks to overtake Ashley Prince (2006-08) for 10th place.
• Burts is 13th in the AU record books with 167 career blocks and needs 11 to surpass Betsy Fisher (2000-04) for 12th place.
UP NEXT
Anderson will look to extend the win streak when Lenoir-Rhyne invades the Abney Center for a midweek matchup. First-serve versus the Bears is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m.
