ANDERSON, S.C. – On a night featuring ghosts, ghouls and multiple people dressed up as head coach Todd Hay, the Anderson University volleyball team avoided a scary night of their own as they were able to sweep Lenoir-Rhyne in straight set on Tuesday, October 31.
"Proud of our team tonight for bouncing back after a tough loss," said the real coach Todd Hay. "L-R has a strong team again this season and we really needed to respond well. I was pleased with our side-out game as a whole but wish our service game had been a little tougher. Fortunately, our back row had a pretty good night defensively and kept us in a lot of rallies. Lindsay especially had a good night. Now out attention turns to LMU on Friday and finishing strong on our final conference road trip."
Sophomore Kaitlyn Barrett (Inman, S.C.) led the Trojans with 10 kills with four other members of the team recording at least seven kills in the contest, leading to a balanced attack and a .231 hitting percentage as a team. Graduate Lindsay McCurley (Simpsonville, S.C.) was a force along the backline all-night, picking up 20 digs. Senior Jenna Long (Clearwater, Fla.) recorded 36 assists in the contest.
The whole first set, and most of the contest was a back-and-forth affair as though Anderson was able to take an early 2-0 lead in the first, the Bears were able to swing the lead to their side of the scoreboard, leading by as much as two at 9-7. A three-point swing for the Trojans gave them the lead back at 13-12 before the teams traded leads and ties until another three-point swing for the Trojans at the 21-21 mark gave them the lead and set point. One of Barrett's 10 kills in the contest was the final point of the set for Anderson as they took the first 25-22.
Anderson was able to jump out to a larger advantage in the second set as they led 4-1 and then continued to expand their advantage at 9-5. However, Lenoir-Rhyne was able to take the next five points of the set to retake the lead at 10-9. The Trojans were able to take back the lead with a four-point run of their own, fueled by back-to-back kills from senior Rylie Sargent (Greer, S.C.) to take the 13-10 lead. They would not allow the Bears to come back in the set as they were able to close out the second set, 25-18.
Another early lead for the Trojans at 8-4 in the third evaporated as the Bears were able to claw back into the set, tying the contest at 9-9. The teams again were able to stay close to each other through the rest of the set as they posted five more ties in the set, eventually culminating at 20-20. Three attacking errors by the Bears and a pair of big swings by senior Tabitha Wheeler (Greenville, S.C.) closed out the final set and the match for the Trojans, 25-20.
The Trojans return to the court on Friday, November 3 as they travel to Harrogate, Tenn. to take on Lincoln Memorial with a 7:00 p.m. first serve.
