HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Using a balanced attack, the Anderson volleyball team wrapped up its brief two-match road swing by blanking Coker, 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-9) in South Atlantic Conference action, Saturday afternoon at the DeLoach Center.
Anderson improved to 9-2 overall and 3-1 in league play, while Coker fell to 3-7 and 0-4.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior middle hitter Noelle Knutsen led all players with 11 kills behind a .600 attacking percentage and added two block assists, while junior outside hitter Meg Sansbury posted eight kills and four digs. Freshman outside hitter Kaitlyn Barrett knocked down seven kills in 12 swings without an error for a .583 hitting accuracy. Sophomore middle hitter Brantley Chipley and junior Sadie Kluner each added five kills and a block assist apiece, while Madison Roy and Jenna Long handed out 29 assists and 12 assists, respectively.
Senior Alexandra Petrilli recorded a match-high 10 digs, with freshman Katy Smith adding five digs. Sophomore Savannah Cox notched four digs and a career-high three service aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Cobras scored the first two points of the frame, before AU answered by going on a 16-1 run and notching the double-digit win on the strength of a .406 attack percentage.
Second Set
After scoring the first four points of the second set and later leading, 8-4, the Trojans survived a scare, as Coker rallied to knot the score at 14-14, 15-15 and again at 16 apiece.
The Cobras then snapped a 17-17 deadlock and claimed a 22-19 lead before Chipley sparked a Trojan rally. With AU still trailing by two, at 23-21, Barrett knocked down her fourth kill of the frame and Harding laced an ace to tie the score for the fifth and final time, as AU capitalized on a Coker error and Sansbury clinched the win with a kill.
Third Set
The third frame saw AU break an early, 3-3, deadlock with a 13-3 scoring onslaught to open a double-digit cushion and behind a trio of players with three kills apiece, AU cruised to the 16-point win.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The Trojans' .372 hitting percentage marked their second-highest of the season.
NOTABLES
• The Trojans captured their first true road win of the season.
• A day after committing a season-high 15 service errors, the Trojans committed just five.
• AU has hit better than .300 in six of its last seven matches.
• The Trojans' eight service aces matched their third-highest total of the season.
• Alexandra Petrilli has reached double-digit digs in four consecutive matches and 10 of 11 contests this season.
• Noelle Knutsen has tallied double-figure kills in four straight matches and seven games this season.
• Knutsen has hit .500 or better in seven consecutive matches and in eight of 11 contests this season.
• The Trojans own a 37-7 record versus the Cobras over the past 22 seasons and have won 26 of the last 29 meetings, including 24 straight.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will welcome Lenoir-Rhyne to the Abney Athletic Center for a Wednesday night matchup. First-serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
