MARS HILL, N.C. – Using a balanced offensive attack and a stout defensive effort, the Anderson volleyball team opened its 13th appearance in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament by outpacing the Mountain Division's second seed and host Mars Hill, 3-1 (25-23, 13-25, 25-20, 25-19) Monday night at Chambers Gymnasium.
Anderson (21-6) snapped a brief two-game skid and advances to meet the Piedmont' Division's top-seed, Wingate, in the tourney semifinals, Friday night at 6:30 p.m.
Mars Hill slipped to 18-9 with its second home loss of the season to the Trojans and will be seeking an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament when the selections are unveiled, Sunday night at 10 p.m.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior right-side hitter Rylie Sargent shared match-high honors with 14 kills and added four digs on the night. The Greer native has knocked double-digit kills in three straight matches and five of the last six contests. Senior middle blocker Noelle Knutsen recorded her eighth straight match with double-figure kills after notching 11 against the Lions. She also added two solo blocks and a pair of block assists. Senior outside hitter Liliana Kinder posted 10 kills, a solo block and a block assist, while junior Jaelyn Grimm also notched 10 kills, along with two service aces, four block assists and a solo block.
Junior outside hitter Meg Sansbury recorded nine kills and two block assists, with senior setter Madison Roy dishing out 55 assists and coming up with eight digs and three block assists. Senior Lindsay McCurley recorded 24 digs and two aces, with sophomore Hannah Neff tallying a career-high 23 digs. Junior Tabitha Wheeler and senior Alexandra Petrilli added 17 digs and 14 digs, respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
They were five ties in the early going, with AU snapping an 8-8 deadlock and taking its first lead at 9–8 on an error by the Lions. But Mars Hill countered with six unanswered points to take a 14–9 advantage, with AU slicing the deficit to three on three occasions, before Knutson's first kill of the night pulled the Trojans within two at 16–14.
Following another score by the Lions, the Trojans reeled off three consecutive points on kills by Sansbury, Sargent and Knutson to tie the score for the sixth time, at 17 apiece and marking the first tie since 9–9.
Moments later McCurley's first service ace of the night gave AU just its second lead at 19–18, but again Mars Hill answered with three consecutive points to take a late 21-19 edge, and forcing another AU time out.
Coming out of the break, the Trojans answered with three straight points of their own, as Grimm knocked down a kill and Sargent knocked down back-to-back kills to give AU a 22-21 lead and forcing a Mars Hill time out. The Lions scored coming out of the break, but Grimm and Sargent proved to be too much down the stretch, with Sargent book-ending the first-set scoring with the first AU point and the final point of the frame.
Second Set
The Trojans carried over the momentum from the first set early in the second stanza, but faltered after building a quick 5-2 lead.
Mars Hill answered with five consecutive points as part of a 12-2 run, doubling up the Trojans at 14-7 and taking a lead they wouldn't surrender. AU was unable to recover, with Mars Hill going on to the double-digit set victory.
Third Set
Kinder led the Black and Gold with five kills in the third set, as the Trojans took an early advantage and trailed just briefly midway through the set.
After falling behind,13-10, Sargent ignited a decisive 9-2 scoring surge that saw AU grab a 19-15 lead and the Trojans never looked back. The Lions climbed as close as two, three times – the latest at 22-20 – but the Trojans closed out the set with three straight points.
Fourth Set
Neither team was able to build more than a two-point lead until the Trojans broke an 11-11 tie by erupting with nine unanswered points to claim an insurmountable, 20-11, advantage.
Mars Hill cut the Trojans lead to five (20-15), but a kill from Grimm slowed the Lions and AU held at least a five-point lead the rest of the way.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
AU's 10 total blocks matched the Trojans' seventh-highest total of the season.
NOTABLES
• The Trojans are making their 11th consecutive trip to the conference tournament and their 12th overall appearance after joining the league for the 2010 campaign.
• AU is seeking its first-ever South Atlantic Conference Tournament title.
• AU will continue its quest for the program's seventh appearance in nine seasons and its first automatic bid to the NCAA Southeast Regional.
• The Trojans have earned a spot in the tourney semifinals in six straight seasons (2017, 2018, 2019, Spring 2021, 2021 and 2022).
• AU is 12-11 in its 12 appearances in the conference tournament.
• The Trojans and Bulldogs also met in last year's tournament semifinals, with AU coming out on top in a five-set decision.
• AU has posted 11 seasons with at least 21 wins over the past 26 years.
• The Trojans lead the overall series with Mars Hill, 22-11, on the strength of a 13-match win streak.
• MHU finished with a stellar 11-3 home record, with the Lions' only losses coming at the hands of Newberry and Anderson (twice).
UP NEXT
AU advances to meet the Piedmont' Division's top-seed, Wingate, in the tourney semifinals for the second straight year. First-serve against the Bulldogs is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m., at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center.
The Trojans will be squaring off against the Bulldogs for the third time this season and second time in two weeks. The two teams split regular-season decisions this year, with each squad defending its home court. They have met 36 times, with AU winning two of the last three meetings. Prior to last year's SAC Championship, AU had dropped six straight to the Bulldogs and five of the last seven meetings have gone the full five-set distance.
2022 SAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Monday, Nov. 7 (at highest seeds)
Match 1: #1 (Mountain) Carson-Newman 3, #4 (Piedmont) Newberry, 0
Match 2: #2 (Piedmont) Lenoir-Rhyne 0 vs. #3 (Mountain) Tusculum 3
Match 3: #1 (Piedmont) Wingate 3, vs. #4 (Mountain) Limestone, 0
Match 4: #2 (Mountain) Mars Hill 1, #3 (Piedmont) Anderson 3
Friday, Nov. 11 (Semifinals) (Rock Hill Sports & Event Center)
Match 5: #1 (Mountain) Carson-Newman vs. #3 (Mountain) Tusculum, 4 p.m.
Match 6: #1 (Piedmont) Wingate vs. #3 (Piedmont) Anderson, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 12 (Finals) (Rock Hill Sports & Event Center)
Match 7: Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6, 2:00 p.m.
2022 SAC Volleyball Championship Bracket
SAC TOURNAMENT INDIVIDUAL DAILY TICKETS:
Semifinals: (Friday, Nov. 11; Rock Hill, S.C.) Adult - $ 10.00; Youth (12 and under)/Senior (60+) Active or Retired Military - $6.00; College Students with college ID - $ 2.00
Finals: Adult - (Saturday, Nov. 12; Rock Hill, S.C.) $ 8.00; Youth (12 and under)/Senior (60+) Active or Retired Military - $5.00; College Students with college ID - $ 2.00
Online Ticket Information – Semifinals & Finals
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE 2022 SAC VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
