FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – Heading into the weekend for a non-conference match-up with Emmanuel, the Anderson University women's volleyball team was able to pick up the ninth straight victory with a 3-0 sweep of the Lions on Saturday, October 21.
Senior Rylie Sargent (Greer, S.C.) tied for the 13th highest hitting percentage in a match (min. 20 attempts) with a .600 on the day, tallying 16 kills to lead the Trojans. Senior Jaelyn Grimm (Cedar Park, Texas) added in 11 kills in the match while sophomore Brantley Chipley (Spartanburg, S.C.) chipped in 10 more. Graduate Lindsay McCurley (Simpsonville, S.C.) led the team with 16 digs while senior Jenna Long (Clearwater, Fla.) tacked on 48 assists.
In what was the most competitive set of the afternoon, the Trojans found themselves trailing early and often, but only by as many as two points before they were able to close the gap and tie the set at 12-12. The two teams traded back and forth tying up the match on another six more occasions, with the last tie coming at 23-23. Kills by senior Sadie Kluner (Venice, Fla.), Sargent and Chipley led the Trojans on a three-point run, including the tying point, to close out the set 25-23.
The second set proved to fall more in line with the trend Anderson has set over its past few matches, taking the early advantage at 6-4. Emmanuel was able to close the gap to just one at 9-8, but the Trojans then laid down the offensive hammer, scoring six straight points and taking the 15-8 lead. Though Emmanuel was able to string a pair of points together twice more in the set, the Trojans were too much to handle the rest of the way, taking the second set by a 25-14 margin.
In the third and final set, Anderson again jumped out to the 4-2 advantage, but again Emmanuel was able to close the gap to just one point, this time at 12-11. Like clockwork, the Trojans dialed up a five-point streak that put the set and the match out of reach at 17-11. It was nearly an even match for the rest of the set, but it was more than enough for Anderson as they outscored the Lions 8-6 over that stretch to take the set 25-17.
The Trojans return to action on Tuesday, October 24 as they welcome in Mars Hill to the Abney Athletic Center for a 6:00 p.m. first serve.
