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Volleyball Runs Win Streak to Six Straight with Five-Set Win at Lincoln Memorial

Volleyball Runs Win Streak to Six Straight with Five-Set Win at Lincoln Memorial

HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Anderson University volleyball team wrapped up its brief two-match South Atlantic Conference road swing by outlasting Lincoln Memorial, 3-2 (26-24, 22-25, 15-25, 25-14, 15-6) Saturday afternoon at Mary Mars Gymnasium.

"We again found ourselves behind on the road and had to take a deep breath and get things straight," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "In sets 1-3, we had a hard time gaining any rhythm and at times couldn't get out of our own way, literally. However, something clicked to start set four and it carried over to set five. Thankful for the 'never say die' attitude we have shown."

Anderson improved to 18-3 overall and 14-2 in league action by stretching its win streak to six straight and has won 16 of its last 17 decisions. Lincoln Memorial (6-16, 5-10 SAC) suffered its third straight loss and has dropped five of its last six decisions.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Sophomore Maya Learmonth led the Trojans with 15 kills behind a .316 hitting percentage, while junior Regan Duty and sophomore Noelle Knutsen each added 11 kills apiece and combined for 11 blocks on the afternoon. Senior Hailee Wilhelm posted nine kills, five block assists and four digs in the win.

Senior setter Emily Conlin added a double-double by handing out 43 assists and coming up with a match-high 19 digs. Freshman Lindsay McCurley recorded 17 digs and four service aces, with sophomore Meghan DeVaux tallying 12 digs. Freshman defensive specialist Alexandra Petrilli notched eight digs.

"Hopefully we can find a way to start stronger and steady out from point one as we get closer to the end of the regular season," added Hay.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Behind an early .600 hitting percentage, the Trojans pushed out to a 9-5 lead, before Lincoln Memorial countered with a 5-1 run that knotted the score for the first time, at 10 apiece.

After the two teams traded points, LMU scored three straight before AU bounced back with three consecutive points of its own to even the score at 14-14.

The 'Splitters quickly claimed a two-point edge before AU countered to take an 18-16 lead. Later, with the Trojans clinging to a 21-20 lead, LMU posted three straight points before Learmonth knocked down a kill to trim the deficit to 23-22. A kill from LMU's Cate Hosenfeld put the home team on the verge of winning the opening frame, but the Trojans held off set point twice – behind a kill from Learmonth and an LMU error – before Learmonth's fifth kill of the afternoon gave AU the lead and the Trojans claimed the set on another LMU error.

Second Set
The second frame was a back-and-forth affair that featured 10 ties, with neither team able to build more than a three-point lead.

The Trojans built an early 5-2 advantage before LMU responded with a 7-2 surge to stake a two-point lead. Moments later, Wilhelm knocked down back-to-back kills that turned a one-point deficit into an 11-10 lead and the Trojans crept out to a 14-11 lead before the Lady Railsplitters posted five straight point to regain the lead, at 16-14.

AU surged back to even the score at 18, 19, and 20, but the Trojans were unable to wrestle the lead away and LMU held on for the two-point win.

Third Set
Lincoln Memorial recorded a .516 hitting percentage during the frame, while opening the set by scoring the first six points en route to taking an 11-3 advantage.

The Trojans chipped away, but were unable to get any closer than four, at 16-12, before LMU pulled away for the double-digit win.

Fourth Set
AU bounced back and behind Christina Stacy's serves, they opened the set by scoring the first five points, while building a 10-4 advantage and forcing an LMU timeout.

Following the break, the Lady Railsplitters scored two straight points, but the Trojans countered with four unanswered points to build a 14-6 edge and held at least a six-point lead the rest of the way.

Fifth Set
The Trojans continued to gather steam in the fifth frame, as they posted a .386 hitting percentage – their best accuracy of the afternoon.

Duty's 11th kill of the day snapped a 4-4 deadlock and Petrilli's second ace of the contest gave AU a 6-4 advantage. From that point, it was nearly all Black and Gold, as the Trojans closed the match on a 9-2 run.

ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
For the second time in less than 24 hours, the Trojans equaled their season-high with 11 total blocks.

NOTABLES
• AU swept the regular-season series with the Lady Railsplitters.
• The Trojans improved to 4-1 in five-set matches this season.
• Four of AU's five-set matches this season have come against Carson-Newman and LMU.
• AU improved to 10-3 away from home this season.
• The Lady Railsplitters slipped to 3-8 at home this season.
• LMU holds a 16-11 advantage in the overall series
• The Trojans have won six of the last seven meetings with LMU.
Emily Conlin notched her 13th double-double of the season.
Hailee Wilhelm has reached double-figure kills in seven matches this season, including two of the last four.
Maya Learmonth has tallied double-digit kills in 12 matches, including three of the last four.
Regan Duty has posted double-figure kills in four straight contests and nine times this season.
Meghan DeVaux has reached double-figure digs on 13 occasions this season, including three of the last four matches.
Lindsay McCurley has reached double-figure digs in eight straight matches.

UP NEXT
Following a five-day layoff, Anderson will open a four-match homestand by playing host to league-leading Wingate on Friday. First-serve at the Abney Athletic Center is slated for 7 p.m.