ANDERSON, S.C. – Following a five-day layoff, the Anderson volleyball team will welcome Newberry to the Abney Athletic Center for a South Atlantic Conference matchup for the second time in two weeks on Tuesday night. First-serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
WHO: Anderson Trojans (9-3, 3-2 SAC) vs. Newberry Wolves (6-6, 1-3 SAC)
WHERE: Abney Athletic Center; Anderson, S.C.
WHEN: Tuesday, 6 p.m.
COVERAGE
Live Stats: AUTROJANS.COM
Video: AUTROJANS.COM (Pay-Per-View)
With the South Atlantic Conference splitting into unbalanced divisions, the Trojans and Wolves will square off three times this season, with the third meeting between the Piedmont Division rivals scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4, in Newberry's "Rivalry Night – Red Out" promotion.
The Trojans
Anderson (9-3, 3-2 SAC), is looking to get back in the win column after suffering its first home loss of the season last Wednesday night. The setback to LR marked the Trojans' first regular-season home loss since falling in four sets to Carson-Newman last October.
Numerous Trojans continue to rank among league leaders in multiple statistical categories, with senior Madison Roy and junior Jenna Long holding the top two spots in assists per set from nearly the outset of the season three weeks ago. The duo, who have shared setting duties this season, are handing out 10.50 assists per set, and 9.71 assists per set, respectively.
The senior tandem of Liliana Kinder and Noelle Knutsen rank second and third in the conference with 126 kills and 125 kills, respectively, while Knutsen and teammate Brantley Chipley are second and third with hitting percentages of .405 and .400 on the season.
Senior Lindsay McCurley stands second in the SAC with 20 service aces, while classmate Alexandra Petrilli is sixth with 150 digs on the season. Junior Jaelyn Grimm leads the league with 48 total blocks, with Knutsen holding the third slot, with 44 blocks.
Newberry
The Wolves (6-6, 1-3 SAC), were a preseason pick to finish seventh in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, after posting an 12-14 overall record last season and finishing tenth in the SAC with a 6-12 mark.
After winning four straight at the Newberry Invitational, the Wolves have dropped two consecutive decisions and three of their last four outings, and are 2-5 on the season away from their home hardwood at Eleazer Arena.
The Series vs. Newberry
The Trojans and Wolves have met 34 times over the past 23 seasons, with AU holding a 25-9 advantage in the overall series that dates back to the 1999 campaign. The two squads met just once between 2005 and 2009, with 25 of the 34 overall matchups coming since the Trojans joined the SAC in 2010. AU claimed the first three league meetings, with Newberry then winning three straight before Anderson swept each of the regular-season series from 2013-2019.
The Trojans will be seeking their 18th win in the last 20 meetings with Newberry and had defeated the Wolves in six consecutive matchups before Newberry edged the Trojans in five sets in the 2021 spring season-opener at the Abney Center. AU avenged the setback by defeating Newberry, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-18) in the quarterfinals of the SAC Spring Volleyball Tournament, then claimed both meetings last fall.
In their first meeting of the season two weeks ago, the Trojans wrapped up a five-match homestand by getting past Newberry, 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-9) at the Abney Center. Knutsen and junior Sadie Kluner and shared match-high honors with 10 kills apiece, with Knutsen posting a .625 hitting percentage after not committing an error in 16 swings. The Parker, Colo., native also knocked down three block assists and had a solo block. Kinder added seven kills, while Hannah Neff and Grimm recorded six kills and five kills, respectively. Kinder and Grimm combined to also tally five block assists on the night.
Roy handed out 25 assists in two sets, with Long dishing out 11 assists in the third frame. Petrilli came up with 11 digs, while Neff added seven digs. McCurley notched six digs and three service aces.
