ANDERSON, S.C. – The sophomore duo of Jaelyn Grimm and Sadie Kluner combined for 22 kills and a .386 hitting percentage to help propel the Anderson University volleyball team to a sweep of South Atlantic Conference-foe Lenoir-Rhyne, 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-21), Tuesday night at the Abney Athletic Center.
"We are very pleased to be able to pick up a much-needed win against a strong Lenoir Rhyne team," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "I felt like we had a pretty balanced attack and were able to dig deep when we needed it. This will be an important regional win going forward. Thanks to all the fans for great support."
Anderson (10-5, 5-2 SAC) wrapped up its four-match homestand with the victory and has won six of its last eight decisions.
Lenoir-Rhyne (8-3, 6-1 SAC), which was bidding to equal its best start in league play since the 2004 season, saw its win streak halted at eight.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Grimm equaled her career high with 11 kills on a .450 hitting percentage, with Kluner also knocking down 11 kills – behind a .375 attacking accuracy. Senior middle blocker Noelle Knutsen posted nine kills on the strength of a .400 hitting percentage – with just one error in 20 swings. The Parker, Colo., native also added a solo block and a pair of block assists. Senior outside hitter Maya Learmonth totaled seven kills, with senior right-side hitter Regan Duty notching six kills and three block assists.
Senior Meghan DeVaux and freshman Hannah Neff had 13 digs apiece, while junior Lindsay McCurley chipped in nine digs and a pair of service aces. Junior setter Madison Roy dished out 39 assists, came up with six digs and recorded two block assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Duty and Kluner each knocked down three kills apiece in the opening frame to get the Trojans out to the early advantage.
With AU holding an 11-8 edge, Duty and Grimm knocked down kills and McCurley notched one of her aces to give the Trojans some breathing room, at 15-10, and later turned the five-point lead into a late nine-point cushion behind a 7-2 surge.
Second Set
Despite hitting .306 in the second set, the Trojans fell behind 11-6 before chipping away and eventually knotting the score at 15 apiece on the strength of a 9-4 scoring run. Kluner helped fuel the rally with three kills, while Grimm added a solo block and a kill during the comeback.
AU again fell behind, 19-17, before evening the score at 20-20 when Duty and Knutsen sandwiched scores around a ball-handling error by the Bears.
The score was tied three more times – the final time at 23 apiece - before AU took advantage of an LR service error and Grimm clinched the win with her third kill of the frame.
Third Set
Grimm and Knutsen combined for 13 of the Trojans' 20 kills in the final set, with AU coming up with three crucial blocks during the frame.
The Trojans jumped out to a 10-6 advantage to force a Lenoir-Rhyne timeout, but AU maintained its grip on the lead and held at least a two-point margin until reaching match point at 24-18. The Bears held off foe three consecutive points before Kluner notched the game-clinching kill.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Trojans improved to 4-0 in three-set matches.
NOTABLES
• The Trojans' .278 hitting percentage was their fourth-highest of the season.
• The last time LR began its conference schedule with six consecutive wins (2004), the Bears finished with a 12-2 league mark.
• Sadie Kluner has reached double-figure kills eight times, including four of the last six outings.
• Jaelyn Grimm has totaled double-digit kills on five occasions, including a season-high 11 twice.
• Hannah Neff has reached double-digit digs in four of the last five matches.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will visit Limestone on Friday. First-serve in Gaffney is scheduled for 7 p.m.
