ST, AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Anderson University volleyball team's bid to reach the NCAA's Sweet 16 for the first time in program history fell just shy, as the Trojans nearly overcame a two-set deficit, but top-seeded Flagler edged the No. 4 seeded Trojans, 3-2 (25-16, 26-24, 19-25, 22-25, 15-13) in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Southeast Region Tournament, Friday night at Flagler Gymnasium.
"We came up a bit short tonight but we walk away with nothing but amazing memories of an amazing season," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "This team showed so much heart, character, and love towards each other that it does help lessen the sting of a tough loss. The 2017 version of AU Trojan volleyball will be one that is talked about and remembered for years to come. Coach Moran and I are truly blessed to have coached such an amazing group of young women. They have the hearts of champions and they are champions!"
Anderson saw its season end with a stellar 28-5 record, which included a school-record 22-match win streak, while Flagler (26-3) improved to 11-2 at home this season and will be looking for its third Southeast Region title when it squares off against second-seeded Wingate, Saturday night.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior outside hitter Marissa Mitter led all players with a season-high 22 kills and notched her 16th double-double of the season by adding 15 digs. Senior middle blocker Rachel Burts posted 16 kills behind a match-high .444 hitting percentage, with junior outside hitter Jayln Knight tallying 11 kills and six digs.
Senior Serena Jackson recorded nine kills, with sophomore setter Emily Conlin handing out 57 assists – one shy of her season-high – and coming up with her 18th double-double of the campaign by recording 12 digs. Junior Emily Conard posted a match-best 27 digs and a pair of service aces, with Megan Embry adding 14 digs and two aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Flagler posted the first three points of the match, but the Trojans stayed steady and countered with three consecutive points of their own to knot the score for the first of four times in the opening frame.
An error by the Saints gave AU its only lead, at 5-4, and the set was deadlocked again at five apiece, before Flagler rattled off three unanswered points to force a Trojan timeout. AU came out of the break by scoring three consecutive points to even the score at 8-8, as Burts posted her first kill of the night and Knight followed with another to get the Black and Gold within one and another Flagler error knotted the score at eight.
The Saints rebuilt a 12-10 advantage, but the Trojans kept them within sight despite hitting just .156 midway through the frame. But AU committed three untimely errors that enabled the Saints to claim an 18-12 lead and force another timeout. The Trojans were unable to overcome six attack errors and a pair of service errors, as Flagler took the nine-point win.
Second Set
The second frame was deadlocked six times before Mitter knocked down a kill and Emily Conard followed with an ace and the Trojans took advantage of a Saints' error to score three straight points and take a 9-6 lead.
But Flagler countered with seven unanswered points to reclaim the advantage and used a 13-2 run to take a 19-11 lead. With Flagler holding a seemingly insurmountable 21-13 advantage, the Trojans refused to surrender and mounted a furious rally by scoring nine straight points and taking a 22-21 lead behind three kills from Mitter.
The score was tied three more times in the final moments and the Trojans held off set point once, but Flagler snapped a 24-24 score with two straight scores to survive the frantic comeback.
Third Set
Down two sets, the Trojans refused to fold as Flagler carried the momentum into the third frame by taking an early 10-3 lead. Down by seven, Burts sparked a huge 14-3 scoring outburst by the Trojans, as the Anderson, S.C., native recorded a solo block and followed with a kill.
AU used a .289 hitting percentage to fuel the rally, with Knight, Mitter and Burts all knocking down three kills apiece to turn the seven-point deficit into a four-point lead.
Flagler pulled within three points on six occasions, but the Trojans turned the Saints away each time and claimed the six-point win when Mitter sandwiched kills around Jackson's second kill of the set.
Fourth Set
The fourth frame saw 11 ties on the scoreboard, with the Trojans capitalizing on a Flagler error and an ace from Conlin to break a 19-19 deadlock and take a two-point lead.
The Saints trimmed AU's lead to 22-21, but Knight answered with a kill for the Trojans and AU reached set point in a miscue by Flagler. The Saints' Taja Valmyr posted a kill, but Burts polished off the victory with her fifth kill of the set.
Fifth Set
The Trojans overcame early miscues and a four-point deficit to take an 8-7 lead on the strength of a 7-2 run, with five different players knocking down a kill to fuel yet another comeback.
The back-and-forth struggle featured five ties and five lead changes down the stretch.
NOTES
• The Trojans ended their season with a school-record 28 victories.
• The Trojans were making their fourth appearance in the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship.
• The Trojans are 2-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• It was AU's third five-set match of the season.
