SALISBURY, N.C. – Stringing together their seventh straight win, the Anderson University women's volleyball team took home a 3-1 victory over Catawba on the road on October 17.
"Catawba is such an improved team from early in September," said head coach Todd Hay. "They were good defensively and we had to really earn out point after set one. It was good to be pushed like this o the road and still come up with a win."
The Trojans were led offensively by senior Rylie Sargent (Greer, S.C.) who was able to record 14 kills in the contest with a strong .387 hitting percentage. Senior Jaelyn Grimm (Cedar Park, Texas) and sophomore Brantley Chipley (Spartanburg, S.C.) each recorded nine kills of their own. Senior Jenna Long (Clearwater, Fla.) added 47 assists and 14 digs to her season tallies while also chipping in a pair of service aces. Grimm led the squad with three aces on the night. Graduate Lindsay McCurley (Simpsonville, S.C.) posted 22 digs in the match to lead the Trojans.
Anderson kicked off the night with a 5-0 run in the first set to jump out to the early lead. After a couple points from the Indians, the Trojans were able to extend their lead out to 15-4, forcing Catawba to call their second timeout of the set in the early goings. Catawba was able to rally slightly after that timeout, closing the gap to just seven points at 19-12. But, that's where the rally would end for the Indians as Anderson closed out the set with six straight points at 25-12.
The second set flipped the script on the Trojans as they found themselves trailing from the get go, only able to take the lead by a single point at 5-4. Catawba strung together a pair of four-point rallies to take the lead 12-6 over Anderson. The Trojans were able to close the gap to as little as three, but that's as close as they would get in the set as they dropped it 25-22.
The third set returned to a more Trojan friendly scoreline as they were able to take the 7-3 advantage in the early goings. A pair of three-point rallies doubled up the Indians point total at 14-7, and while the Indians were able to claw at the Trojans lead, they were unable to get closer than four points to the Trojan advantage. Anderson closed out the third set 25-14.
Again, it was Anderson who took the early lead in the fourth set at 7-5, but both teams were battling back and forth throughout the set. The Trojans took the 13-9 lead forcing the Indians to call a timeout that led to a pair of Catawba points, with Anderson calling a timeout after them at 13-11. The Trojans were able to distance themselves from the Indians the rest of the set, wrapping up the night with a 25-19 win.
"Our last two set were strong offensively and we had some great bench support tonight when we really needed it. We look forward to being at home on Friday night!"
The Trojans welcome in the Wasps of Emory & Henry on Friday, October 20. The match will also be a fundraiser for the Anderson SAAC's Make a Wish fundraiser.
