ANDERSON, S.C. – A week after posting a season-high hitting percentage, the Anderson University volleyball team hit reset and posted a new season-high hitting accuracy, while opening its final four-match homestand of the season by blanking UVA Wise, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-12), in South Atlantic Conference play, Friday night at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson (17-6, 12-3 SAC) stretched its win streak to a season-high five matches with its fourth straight win over the Cavaliers. UVA Wise (4-19, 0-15 SAC) suffered its eighth straight loss and is still seeking its first win in the South Atlantic Conference.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Sophomore Rylie Sargent led all players with a career-high nine kills. The Greer native posted a .667 hitting percentage after committing just one error in 12 swings. Senior middle blocker Hannah Worsham added seven kills behind a .600 hitting accuracy and notched a pair of block assists. Sophomore Jaelyn Grimm and senior outside hitter Maya Learmonth each tallied five kills apiece, while sophomore outside hitter Meg Sansbury notched four kills, a pair of service aces and a career-best nine digs.
Junior Madison Roy recorded 22 assists, two service aces and five digs, with sophomore setter Jenna Long handing out 11 assists and coming up with four digs. Senior Meghan DeVaux led AU with 10 digs and equaled her career-high with seven assists on the night. Freshman Hannah Neff tallied six digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
With Grimm and Learmonth leading the way with five kills apiece, the Trojans hit .314 in the opening set to set the tone.
With UVA Wise holding an early 8-4 advantage, the Trojans rattled off an 18-6 scoring outburst to take control of the frame. The Cavaliers climbed within six (23-17) late, but Roy knocked down a kill and AU seized the win on an error by UVA Wise.
Second Set
Sargent posted six of her match-high kills in the second stanza and the Trojans were even hotter – hitting .333, while holding the Cavaliers to a -.036 hitting accuracy.
While UVA Wise again grabbed an early lead (5-2), the Trojans stayed close. Later, with the cavaliers still leading by one, at 11-10, AU reeled off 12 unanswered points as part of a 15-2 surge to close the set.
Third Set
The Trojans bolted out to an early 4-1 lead and never trailed, while hitting .571.
After AU pushed out to an 18-11 cushion, Sansbury served for seven of the final eight points, while Liliana Kinder knocked down the clinching kill.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Trojans' .382 hitting percentage topped their .370 hitting percentage from a week ago at Lincoln Memorial. AU, which leads the SAC, is hitting .285 over its last 10 matches.
NOTABLES
• Lenoir-Rhyne has moved into a tie for first place in the league standings, alongside Tusculum, while the Trojans and Wingate remain tied for third place, one game behind the Bears and Pioneers with three games left in the regular season.
• The Trojans have won five straight matches, nine of their last 10 and 11 of their last 13.
• AU improved to 5-2 at home this season.
• AU has notched 10 sweeps this season, including five straight.
• Meghan DeVaux has reached double-figure digs in 16 matches this season.
UP NEXT
Anderson will welcome co-league leader Tusculum to the Electric City, Saturday afternoon. First-serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Abney Center.
