HARROGATE, Tenn. – Behind a .357 hitting percentage in the opening set, the Anderson volleyball team overwhelmed Lincoln Memorial (25-15, 25-16, 25-15) in a South Atlantic Conference matchup, Saturday afternoon at Mary Mars Gymnasium.
"This was a very good weekend for Trojan volleyball," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "It's always good when you can grab two wins on the road. Carson-Newman pushed us and we had to respond. I am very proud of the way the team handled the crowd and the challenge from the Eagles."
Anderson (12-3, 6-1) started strong and never eased up, while upping its win streak to seven matches with its first victory over the Lady Railsplitters in five meetings. Lincoln Memorial slipped to 6-6 overall and 3-5 in league action with its third straight loss.
"I felt like our LMU match was one of our better executed performances of the year on defense," added Hay. "The front line altered a lot of shots and made things easier for our back row. Emily Conlin distributed the call very well and got everyone involved. We are definitely looking forward to the six-game homestand, starting with an extra day off on Monday."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior outside hitter Marissa Mitter led all players with 11 kills and added six digs, while fellow senior Rachel Burts posted nine kills on the strength of a .538 hitting percentage. Senior Serena Jackson and sophomore Kathryn Hughes each tallied six kills apiece, with sophomore setter Emily Conlin recording 33 assists and five digs. Juniors Jayln Knight and Emily Conard came up with nine digs apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
After the Lady Railsplitters opened the scoring with the first point of the match, AU rattled off four straight points as part of a 6-1 run and claimed a lead they would not surrender. Mitter knocked down six of her kills without an error in nine attempts to lead the offensive attack, as the ZTrojsans earned the double-digit win.
Second Set
After three early ties, a pair of LMU errors gave the Trojans the lead for good and AU doubled up the Lady Railsplitters, at 10-5, behind five unanswered points. Junior Megan Embry capped the surge with back-to-back aces.
LMU countered with three straight points of its own, but would get no closer as the Trojans posted a 7-1 run to open a double-digit lead, at 21-11, and put the set out of reach. Hughes keyed the outburst with back-to-back kills and Jackson capped the run with a kill.
Third Set
The final frame saw five early ties before AU broke a 5-5 deadlock and broke it open with a 7-1 outburst. Knight powered the run with her serves, and Burts knocked down a pair of kills.
The Trojans steadily built a late nine-point cushion and went on to claim the double-digit win.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
AU's 10 aces against the Lady Railsplitters were the third-highest tally of the season.
NOTES
• The seven-match win streak is the longest since the Trojans joined the South Atlantic Conference in 2010.
• Five of the wins in the streak have been sweeps.
• The Trojans are 9-1 in three-set matches this season.
• AU has recorded 41 service aces in the last seven matches.
• Conlin has nine double-doubles on the season.
• Mitter needs two kills to surpass former Trojan standout Shaunte' Heyward (2003-06) for 10th place in the school record books.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will look to keep the streak going when they open a season-high six-match homestand versus Tusculum on Friday. First-serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Abney Athletic Center.
