GAFFNEY, S.C. – Using their fourth-highest hitting percentage of the season, the Anderson University volleyball team notched its third straight South Atlantic Conference sweep by blanking Limestone, 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-18) Friday night at the Timken Center.
Anderson (11-5, 6-2 SAC) has won three straight and seven of its last nine decisions, while Limestone (5-8, 2-6 SAC) has lost five straight and six of its last seven outings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior right-side hitter Regan Duty led all players with 12 kills behind a .579 hitting percentage. The Inman native committed just one error in 19 swings and also posted a solo block and a pair of block assists. Maya Learmonth added six kills, with Noelle Knutsen notching five kills, a solo block and three block assists. Sophomore Sadie Kluner recorded four kills and three block assists, as well.
Junior Madison Roy dished out 28 assists, while chipping in two service aces and a pair of block assists. Neely Shugart and Jaelyn Grimm each posted two block assists. Junior Lindsay McCurley tallied 11 digs and two service aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
AU never trailed after posting the first six points of the set behind McCurley's serves and two kills and a block assist from Duty.
The Trojans steadily built a 15-9 lead and held at least a four-point advantage before pulling away down the stretch.
Second Set
Duty, Grimm, Learmonth and Knutsen each knocked down three kills apiece and the team posted a red-hot .433 hitting percentage to take a two-set lead.
The score was knotted three times early, but the Trojans used a 13-3 scoring outburst to turn a modest 6-4 lead into a 19-7 cushion, while hitting .389 during the surge.
Third Set
The third frame was tied seven times before Duty's first kill of the set gave the Trojans the lead for good, at 8-7.
AU held at least a two-point edge before claiming an eight-point lead (19-11) on an ace from Alexandra Petrilli and cruised to the seven-point win.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
Duty's .579 hitting percentage marked the Trojans' highest accuracy of the season.
NOTABLES
• The Trojans' 16 block assists were their third-highest total of the year.
• AU posted its first three-game win streak of the season.
• The last time the Trojans posted a three-match win streak that were all three sweeps was during the 2018 season (Francis Marion, Va. Union and UNC Pembroke)
• The Trojans and Saints were meeting for just the second time since the 2014 season.
• The Trojans have won eight straight and 11 of the last 13 meetings with Limestone.
• AU improved to 8-4 away from home on the season.
• Regan Duty has reached double-digit kills eight times this season.
• Duty has moved into 13th place all-time in the school record books with 816 career kills.
• Lindsay McCurley has tallied double-figure digs eight times this season.
• Madison Roy has moved into ninth place all-time in the school record books with 1,283 career assists. Former standout Betsy Fisher (2000-04) is in eighth place with 1,405 career assists.
• Noelle Knutsen has moved into 13th place in the school record books with 191 career blocks.
• Meghan DeVaux has 109 career service aces and needs 11 to surpass Melissa Nodine for 11th place in the school record books.
• With her 13 digs in the win over Lenoir-Rhyne, DeVaux moved past Lindsay Doggett into 14th place in the school record books with 1,202 career digs and now has 1,209. Former Trojan Jayln Knight (2015-18) is in 13th place with 1,269 career digs.
UP NEXT
Anderson will open a brief two-match homestand, Friday night by playing host to Lincoln Memorial. First-serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Abney Athletic Center.
