HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – In their final day of action at the UAH Charger Invitational, the Anderson University Trojans posted a perfect mark in their two matches, including a five-set upset over No. 12 Barry as the Trojans were able to defeat the Buccaneers and Montevallo on Saturday, September 9.
"After last night we had to push the clear button and find it within ourselves to move forward," said head coach Todd Hay. "I felt like we definitely did that and played really well during the morning match against an up-tempo Montevallo team."
Match One: Anderson 3, Montevallo 0
Senior Sadie Kluner (Venice, Fla.) led the attack for the Black and Gold as she was able to hammer down team with eight kills in the math while senior Jenna Long (Clearwater, Fla.) chipped in 26 assists and six digs.
"Once out service game got on track, we pretty much controlled the match and saw good balance from our offense."
Anderson came out the gate racking up the early points as they were able to extend out to an early 7-2 advantage but, Montevallo was able to take eight of the next nine points to swing the score to their side of the scoreboard, 10-8. Anderson took over the set from that point forward as they were able to put together runs of five, four, two and four points while only allowing the Flacons to score five more point over the course of the set, taking it by a score of 25-15.
The second set was more competitive in the early goings as neither team could gain a large advantage, battling back and forth until tying the match up at 12. Anderson was able to extend their lead out to 16-13, but the Falcons again were able to claw back into the set, forcing another tie at 17. The Trojans again ended a set on a large run, outscoring Montevallo by a 8-3 clip over the final stretch, securing the set second victory at 25-20.
A six-point run kicked off the third set for the Trojans with a pair of kills by Sargent and one from Kluner to give them the early 6-0 lead. Montevallo was able to pull back to within one after outscoring the Trojans by an 8-3 margin, cutting the lead to 9-8. Another six-point run by Anderson looked to put the match out of reach and it would as they followed that run up with a seven-point streak and finished out the set with a 25-13 win.
Match Two: Anderson 3, No. 12 Barry 2
Kluner again led the way for the Trojans as she was able to record 18 kills with senior Meg Sansbury (Seneca, S.C.) posting 17 kills on the match as well. Long was impressive from her setting position again as she recorded 53 assists, adding two kills of her own. Sargent was also in the double digits with 15 kills. Sophomore Savannah Cox (Simpsonville, S.C.) led the squad with 17 digs.
The Trojans struggled in the opening set against the Buccaneers as they found themselves behind early in the set by a 9-2 margin. Anderson was able to break up the runs of the Bucs throughout the remainder of the opening set but wasn't able to put together a stretch of longer than two points as they found themselves down by 12 at 20-8. Though the Bucs took the opening set, the Trojans were able to close the gap in the end as they only allowed the Bucs to outscore them 5-4 over the final stretch.
"The Barry match could not have started much worse but during the changeover we just kept saying that it's only one set and we just need to be the best version of us we know to be," added Hay.
While the Bucs were able to again take the early lead, the Trojans were able take their first lead of the match at 7-6 in the second and would use a small run to extend their lead 12-9. After Barry was able to bring the score back level at 14, the Trojans posted a five-point run that gave them the 19-14 advantage late in the set. The Bucs closed the gap to three points on multiple occasions, but the Trojans were able to work out of the jam each time, taking the second set by a score of 25-21.
"I felt like we were pressing too hard because of how good those two outside hitters are. Out service game picked up and we were able to set various hitters and keep their big front line a little off balance."
The third set was the most dominant for the Trojans as though they started the set behind, they quickly took the lead back at 5-4. Another tie at 5-5 would be the closest it would be for the Bucs the set as Anderson used multiple short two-point stretches to slowly creep away from the Bucs 21-18. The final four points of the third set were all Anderson as they closed out the third 25-18.
The fourth set of the evening was closer to the first than either of the others as Barry was able to take the first three points of the match and further extend that advantage to 6-2. The Trojans were able to pull even on multiple occasions, but the Bucs strung together a long stretch, increasing their advantage in the set to 19-13. The teams traded back and forth three-point runs but the Bucs would end with the five-point advantage, 25-20.
The fifth set started as a battle with both teams trading points with each other till a tie at 3. Anderson outscored the Bucs 7-2 over the next nine points to take the lead 10-5. With a five-point deficit, the Bucs were able to close the gap and eventually tie the score at 12. Anderson, seeing upset on the horizon, was able to score three of the next four points, including the match securing kill from Sansbury, taking the set 15-13.
"Set five just came down to making fewer errors and playing clean and we did that just a little better. Really proud of our team this weekend."
The Trojans now return to conference action as they make the short trip up I-85 to Gaffney, S.C. on Tuesday, September 12 to take on the Saints of Limestone University at 7:00 pm.
