WISE, Va. – After dropping the opening set on the road, the Anderson University volleyball team was able to take the next three in convincing fashion to pick up the 3-1 win over UVA Wise in a league match-up on Friday, October 6.
"While we weren't happy with the way we chose to start the night, I was pleased with how we picked up our play as the night went on," said head coach Todd Hay. "UVA Wise is a very improved program, and their block presence was key to their first set win. Hopefully we can learn a lot from all the matches and continue to improve throughout the season."
The Trojans were led offensively by senior Sadie Kluner (Venice, Fla.) who was able to rattle off 17 kills on the evening. Also surpassing the double-digit mark was senior Tabitha Wheeler (Greenville, S.C.) and senior Jaelyn Grimm (Cedar Park, Texas) who turned in 12 and 11 on the night, respectively. Senior Jenna Long (Clearwater, Fla.) and junior Hannah Neff (Fort Mill, S.C.) led the squad with 18 digs each while Long recorded 49 assists on the evening. Graduate Lindsay McCurley (Simpsonville, S.C.) caught fire from the
Though Anderson was able to jump out to an early advantage in the opening set, thanks in part to several attacking errors from the Cavaliers, they were unable to get true separation, leading by just two at 9-7. The error bug swung its way over to the Trojans sideline down the stretch as again though they were able to extend their lead to three at 19-16, the Cavalier were able to go on a seven-point run that involved four attacking errors from the Trojans, giving UVA Wise the 23-19 lead. Each team was able to score two more points in the set, giving UVA Wise the 25-21 win.
Hitting at a much higher clip in the second set, the Trojans were able to take advantage of their own seven-point run in the early goings of the frame to take a 9-4 lead. The teams traded points back and forth throughout the set, with the Cavaliers pulling back to within one at 17-16. However, a three-point run and a pair of two-point streaks for the Trojans would put away the set for the Black and Gold as they took the 25-18 win.
The third set was all Anderson following a minor setback in the beginning. The Trojans were trailing 9-4 when they were able to rattle off a five-point run to tie up the set at nine. The lead then swung into Anderson's favor as they were able to pull away slightly, leading by a pair at 15-13. The next nine points of the set were all added to the visitor side of the scoreboard as Anderson extended their advantage to 24-13. Though they allowed UVA Wise to get two more points in the set, the Trojans wrapped up the 25-15 win.
Anderson looked to put the fourth set out of reach quickly and thanks to five service aces by McCurley that sparked an eight-point run, the Trojans took the 9-2 advantage. The Cavaliers were able to bring that lead back down to four at 11-7, but it was Anderson that would begin to pull way over the final stretch, extending the lead to as much as eight before finishing out the set with a nine-point advantage, 25-16.
The Trojans continue their two-game road trip with a visit to Newberry on Tuesday, October 10.
