ANDERSON, S.C. – After getting off to a strong start with three wins last weekend at the Indianapolis Tournament, the Anderson volleyball team is set to host a tournament for the first time since the 2012 season as part of a five-match homestand.
Included in the 10-match event is a rare Thursday night matchup with Catawba which will serve as the home opener for AU and the conference opener for both teams.
In addition to the Catawba matchup, the Trojans are slated to square off against Texas A&M International from the Lone Star Conference, Friday afternoon, then wrap up Friday's action by playing host to Converse from Conference Carolinas. AU and Alabama Huntsville are slated to meet, Saturday afternoon.
Admission:
$20 - Weekend Pass (Sold on Thursday & Friday)
$10 - Daily Ticket
$10 - Seniors for Entire Tournament
$5 - Single Game Student/ Senior
Free - AU Students (with ID) & Children 10 and under
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Live Stats: AUTROJANS.COM
Video: AUTROJANS.COM (Pay-Per-View)
WHO: Anderson Trojans (3-1) vs. Catawba (1-1)
WHERE: Abney Athletic Center; Anderson, S.C.
WHEN: Thursday, 7 p.m.
WHO: Anderson Trojans (3-1) vs. Texas A&M International (3-1)
WHERE: Abney Athletic Center; Anderson, S.C.
WHEN: Friday, 1:30 p.m.
WHO: Anderson Trojans (3-1) vs. Converse (1-1)
WHERE: Abney Athletic Center; Anderson, S.C.
WHEN: Friday, 6 p.m.
WHO: Anderson Trojans (3-1) vs. Alabama Huntsville (2-2)
WHERE: Abney Athletic Center; Anderson, S.C.
WHEN: Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
The Trojans
Anderson (3-1), which has posted a 50-7 (.877) home record over the past five seasons, will be looking to win its second straight home opener and claim its fifth home-opening victory in six seasons when the Trojans welcome Catawba to Annie Tribble Court, Thursday night.
The Trojans opened the season by blanking McKendree, then dropped a five-set decision to the host Greyhounds last weekend before bouncing back to sweep Wayne State and knock off Montevallo in four sets.
Junior Jaelyn Grimm was named the South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. Grimm leads the conference in both blocks and blocks per set and her eight block assists against Montevallo in Sunday's final match of the weekend matched the third-highest total in program history, just two behind former standout Jessica Harris' 10 against Bellarmine in 2014.
She led all players with six block assists in the season-opening sweep of McKendree and added four block assists against UIndy, while notching a match-high five block assists against Wayne State. The Cedar Park, Texas, native also ranks 12th in the South Atlantic Conference with a .283 attacking percentage.
Liliana Kinder also posted stellar performances in the Hoosier State and leads the Trojans with 56 kills (3.73/set), while owning a .265 hitting percentage. She is third on the squad with 10 blocks on the early season. Senior Noelle Knutsen recorded 39 kills (2.60/set) and 20 blocks in Indianapolis, with Tabitha Wheeler adding 27 kills over the four-match span.
Senior setter Madison Roy leads the Trojans with 114 assists (9.50/set), with junior Jenna Long adding 8.80 assists per set over five sets. Senior Alexandra Petrilli paces AU with 71 digs, while Wheeler and Lindsay McCurley posted 42 digs and 40 digs, respectively.
Catawba
The Indians were picked to finish ninth in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, after posting an 11-14 overall record last season and finishing ninth in the SAC with a 8-10 mark.
Catawba is 1-1 on the early season after sweeping Paine and falling in four sets to USC Aiken in last weekend's USC Aiken Invitational.
First-year head coach Brenn Larson Ferguson's roster features 16 freshman and sophomores along with eight upperclassmen, including seniors Ashley Johnson and Raytchelle Miranda, who combined for 312 kills a season ago. On the defensive end, the Indians returned their top three middle blockers in Johnson, Miranda, and Jordan Gore who combined for a total of 188 blocks last season.
Senior setter Dara Kane also returned after finishing second on the team in assists with 388 a year ago.
The Series vs. Catawba
The Trojans and Indians will be meeting for the 22nd time in program history. AU holds a 16-5 advantage in the overall series and has won 15 of the last 17 meetings, including eight straight.
Texas A&M International
The Dustdevils were tabbed to finished 14th in the LSC Preseason Poll earlier this month after finishing last season with a 4-20 overall record, including a 4-13 mark in the Lone Star Conference.
TAMIU was swept in its season opener against Azusa Pacific in the Northwest Nazarene Tournament, but improved to 3-1 on the season after bouncing back to knock off Emory & Henry, the host Nighthawks and Rollins.
Freshman Emma Lade was named the Lone Star Conference Setter of the Week on Tuesday after finishing the weekend with a league-leading 172 assists, including 64 assists in a five-set win over Northwest Nazarene to set the program record for assists in a five-set match. Lade averaged a conference-best 11.46 assists per set. She also led the team with seven service aces and helped TAMIU to a .259 hitting percentage.
The Series vs. Texas A&M International
The Trojans will square off against Texas A&M International for the first time in program history.
Converse
The Valkyries and new head coach Alexis Ivey were picked to finish 11th in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches Poll, after posting a 5-22 overall record last season, including a 5-13 mark in Conference Carolinas.
The senior trio of Savannah Ducote, Jasmine Finkley and Evelyn Fitz were each named to the Conference Carolinas' Preseason Watch List.
Converse is 1-1 on the season after falling to the host Pacers and blanking Paine College at last weekend's USC Aiken Invitational.
The Series vs. Converse
AU will play host to Converse in the 24th meeting between the two programs, but the first since 2018 and just the third time since 2009, when both were members of Conference Carolinas. The Trojans lead the overall series 15-8 and have won nine straight over the Valkyries.
Alabama Huntsville
The Chargers were tabbed second in the Gulf South Preseason Coaches Poll and are coming off their second straight trip to the NCAA South Regional. UAH has won 20 or more games in four consecutive fall seasons and made the program's seventh NCAA tournament appearance a year ago. The Chargers finished 21-10 overall after falling to Nova Southeastern in the NCAA South Region Quarterfinals. They notched a 13-3 mark in GSC play and finished second in the conference standings.
Three Chargers were named to the GSC Top Newcomers list for 2022 - Savannah Rutledge, Tatiana Bonilla and Colby Charland.
The Series vs. Alabama Huntsville
Saturday morning's contest will mark the first meeting in program history between AU and the Chargers.
