ANDERSON, S.C. – Redshirt sophomore Hailee Wilhelm and freshman Liliana Kinder combined for 24 kills, as the Anderson University volleyball team bounced back from a disappointing loss last weekend to claim a 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-15) South Atlantic Conference win over Newberry, Tuesday night at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson (22-3, 13-2 SAC) captured its 12th win in the last 13 meeting with the Wolves and swept the regular-season series for the fifth time in six seasons. Newberry slipped to 8-13 overall and 3-11 in the conference with its fifth loss in six decisions.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Wilhelm notched 14 kills on the strength of a .417 hitting percentage, while Kinder added 10 kills. Senior Jayln Knight posted seven kills and came up with nine digs, with junior Emily Conlin recording a double-double by handing out 35 assists and notching 10 digs. Senior Emily Conard posted a team-high 11 digs, with freshman Meghan DeVaux chipping in seven digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Newberry scored the opening point of the set, but Duty fueled a 7-2 run with two block assists and a pair of kills that quickly gave AU a lead it would not relinquish.
The Trojans steadily built a 17-9 advantage, before Newberry rattled off a 7-1 outburst that saw the Wolves get within two before AU capitalized on a service error and a kill by Wilhelm to boost its advantage to 20-16. AU edged out to a 24-18 cushion and while the Wolves held off set point three times, the Trojans again took advantage of a Newberry miscue to claim the set.
Second Set
The Wolves again scored the first point of the frame, with AU again countering – this time with an 11-3 surge, which was sparked by a kill from redshirt freshman Hannah Worsham.
The Trojans equaled the eight-point lead moments later, but Newberry again pulled within 19-16 before Knight and Wilhelm slowed the Wolves with back-to-back kills to push the lead back to five.
With Knight serving, the Trojans later closed out the frame with four straight points.
Third Set
AU jumped out to an 8-3 advantage and never looked back, as the Trojans turned a 16-9 lead into a late double-digit, 23-13, cushion and maintained the double-digit lead on the strength of a .281 hitting percentage.
NOTABLES
• AU improved to 10-0 at the Abney Center.
• The Trojans extended their home win streak to 24 matches.
• Emily Conlin has recorded 14 double-doubles on the season.
• AU has reached the 22-win plateau for the seventh time in program history and the second straight season after posting a school-record 28 victories a year ago.
• The Trojans close out the regular season with four of their final five matches on the road.
UP NEXT
Anderson opens a two-match road swing at Tusculum, Friday night, with the Trojans looking to sweep the season series after knocking off the Pioneers in three sets last month at the Abney Center. First-serve versus at Pioneer Arena is slated for 7 p.m.
