WINGATE, N.C. – The Anderson University volleyball team opened a three-match road swing with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-22) setback to defending South Atlantic Conference champion Wingate, Friday night at Cuddy Arena.
Anderson (5-3, 0-1 SAC) entered the contest looking to knock off the Bulldogs for the second straight time and just the third time in school history, but suffered its second loss in three decisions. Wingate improved to 8-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior outside hitter Marissa Mitter posted a team-high 11 kills to go along with eight digs and a pair of block assists. Fellow senior Serena Jackson added seven kills and four total blocks, with junior outside hitter Jayln Knight and senior middle blocker Rachel Burts each tallying six kills apiece. Burts recorded a .455 hitting percentage and added three block assists, while Knight notched a .500 hitting percentage and posted 10 digs. Junior libero Megan Embry came up with 11 digs, while sophomore setter Emily Conlin posted her second straight double-double with 31 assists and a team-high 14 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Wingate scored six unanswered points to open the first frame, but following a timeout, the Trojans countered with two straight points and three of the next four as part of a 5-2 run to slow the Bulldog attack. AU continued to chip away and rallied to knot the score at 10 apiece by taking advantage of a Bulldog error.
The score was even on eight occasions through the rest of the set, but the Trojans were unable to take the lead and Wingate snapped a 21-21 deadlock with three consecutive points to reach set point. AU climbed back within two an another Wingate error, but would get no closer.
Mitter notched six of her kills in the opening set and the Trojans nearly overcame Wingate's .316 hitting percentage.
Second Set
Wingate opened strong again by starting the frame with a 5-2 surge and edged out to a 10-6 advantage to force a timeout on the Trojan side. AU responded with two unanswered points and a 4-1 run to climb within 11-10 before the Bulldogs countered with four consecutive points as part of a 7-1 run to take their largest lead of the set, at 18-11.
The Trojans battled back within five four times, but could not gain ground as Wingate claimed the set by a six–point margin.
Third Set
Behind Conlin's serves, the Trojans took their first lead of the contest by scoring the first three points of the set. Wingate answered with three straight points of its own before freshman Kaitlyn Grube knocked down a kill to regain the lead for AU and the Trojans claimed a 5-3 edge on a Bulldog miscue.
Wingate responded to even the score five times, but the Trojans refused to give the lead back until the Bulldogs rattled off a 7-2 run to claim a 16-13 advantage. After trailing by six, AU rallied to within 22-19 on an ace from Conlin and a kill from Jackson to force a Wingate timeout. The two teams traded scores before back-to-back blocks by Hughes and Jackson pulled the Black and Gold within 23-22, however Wingate responded with two straight points to claim the match.
NOTES
• The Trojans are now 6-2 in South Atlantic Conference openers over the past eight seasons.
• Mitter needs 51 kills to become the 11th player in school history to record at least 1,000 career kills.
• Emily Conard has 1,191 career digs and needs eight digs to take over the 11th spot in the school record books.
• Jackson 161 career blocks and needs just one more block to take sole possession of 12th place in the school record books.
• Conlin has five double-doubles on the season.
• Knight has three double-doubles on the season.
• Mitter has three double-doubles on the season.
UP NEXT
Anderson continues the road swing by visiting Queens on Saturday. First-serve versus the Royals is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Levine Center.
