GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Paced by senior outside hitter Marissa Mitter's match-high 19 kills, the Anderson University volleyball team opened its final regular-season road swing of the season by sweeping Tusculum, 3-0, (25-20, 25-19, 25-16) in South Atlantic Conference action, Friday night at Pioneer Arena.
"This was an amazing night for Trojan volleyball," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "To be able to clinch at least a share of the title and the overall number one seed is richly deserved for this group of players. We played as a tight nit family tonight and came together when it mattered most. Thank you to our AU community and fans who have supported us all year. We share this championship with them."
Anderson (25-3, 18-1 SAC) clinched at least a share of the league's regular-season championship, while extending its school-record win streak to 20 matches and holding on to first place in the conference standings. Tusculum slipped to 15-15 overall and 10-10 in the conference with its second straight loss.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Mitter added 10 digs for her 13th double-double of the season, while fellow senior Serena Jackson tallied nine kills on a .389 hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Jayln Knight recorded eight kills, 13 digs and a pair of solo blocks, with sophomore setter Emily Conlin handing out 44 assists and coming up with five digs. Junior libero Emily Conard came up with 13 digs in the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Trojans had to rally twice to capture the set after Tusculum scored the first four points of the frame. After falling behind early, AU battled back and knotted the score, at seven apiece, for the first of four times on an attack error by the Pioneers.
Mitter's second kill of the set gave AU their first lead, at 8-7, and the Trojans took a 13-10 advantage another Pioneer miscue, before Tusculum scored six straight points to regain the lead. AU refused to surrender and chipped away, while taking a brief 18-17 edge on a kill from Knight and an ace from Megan Embry. Following a Trojan miscue that tied the score for the final time, AU rattled off three unanswered points to take a lead it would not relinquish, at 21-18.
Tusculum closed within 21-20, but the Trojans posted the final four points for the win.
Second Set
The Trojans jumped out to an early lead and doubled up the Pioneers, 8-4, on a kill from Knight, but it was Tusculum's turn to bounce back from an early deficit. TC knotted the score at 10-10 and claimed a brief 12-10 advantage, before the Trojans went on a 7-1 run.
AU held at least a two-point lead the rest of the way, as the Trojans turned Tusculum away each time the Pioneers made a run. The Black and Gold claimed a late 23-18 lead and went on for the six-point win.
Third Set
The final set was tied four times early, before AU snapped a 7-7 deadlock with three unanswered points.
AU posted a .378 hitting percentage and steadily built an 18-13 cushion, while holding at least a four-point margin the rest of the way.
NOTES
• With the victory, the Trojans have equaled the 2014 squad for most wins in a single season in program history.
• The 19 kills equaled Mitter's second-highest tally of the season.
UP NEXT
With a win at Mars Hill on Saturday afternoon, the Trojans can unseat 10-time defending conference regular-season champion Wingate and win the first regular-season conference title in program history. First-serve versus the Lions is set for 2 p.m.
