HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Anderson University volleyball team used a season-high .373 hitting percentage to blank Coker, 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-15) in South Atlantic Conference play, Saturday afternoon at the DeLoach Center.
Anderson claimed its 15th consecutive win, while sweeping the regular-season series with the Cobras and improved to 20-3 overall and 14-1 in league action with its 18th win in 21 meetings with Coker. The Cobras fell to 11-14 overall and 5-11 in the SAC with its fourth loss in five outings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior outside hitter Marissa Mitter led all players with 12 kills on a .417 hitting percentage and tallied 11 digs for her third double-double in five matches and 10th double-double of the season. Sophomore outside hitter Kathryn Hughes added 11 kills and shared match-high honors with a .417 hitting percentage. Senior Serena Jackson posted eight kills and a pair of solo blocks, while fellow senior Rachel Burts tallied seven kills and four total blocks.
Junior Jayln Knight recorded seven kills and eight digs, with sophomore setter Emily Conlin dishing out 41 assists and coming up with 12 digs for her second straight double-double and 12th double-double of the season. The Glendale, Ariz., native added a pair of service aces. Junior libero Emily Conard recorded 22 digs and handed out seven assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Behind Conlin's serves and a pair of kills from Mitter, the Trojans reeled off the first seven points of the match as part of a 10-3 scoring outburst to start the afternoon. AU built a double-digit, 16-6, advantage on Jackson's solo block and pushed out to a 15-point lead on another solo block – this time from Burts – that pushed AU to set point. Following a kill by the Cobras, Hughes knocked down her third kill of the frame to seal the win.
Second Set
The Trojans grabbed an early 5-2 lead behind a balanced attack and later pushed out to an eight-point, 17-9, advantage on the strength of a 6-2 run.
AU capitalized on back-to-back errors by the Cobras to spark a late surge, with Mitter and Conlin sandwiching kills around a kill from Coker to claim the victory.
Third Set
The final set was tied four times early before the Trojans snapped a 5-5 deadlock by taking advantage of another miscue to take a lead they wouldn't surrender. AU quickly gained a three-point lead but Coker stayed close and pulled within 13-12 before the Black and Gold rattled off an 8-1 run to take control of the frame. Burts fueled the deciding run with three kills and a block assist, with Knight posting back-to-back kills.
NOTES
• AU has reached the 20-win plateau for the eighth time in school history and the second time since the 2014 campaign.
• The Trojans notched their second straight sweep and their eighth in nine matches.
• Following Saturday afternoon's action, the Trojans in first place, a 1/2 game in front of Wingate in the SAC standings and 2 1/2 games ahead of third-place Queens.
UP NEXT
Anderson will wrap up its three-match road swing at Lenoir-Rhyne on Tuesday. First-serve in Hickory, N.C., is set 7 p.m.
