CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Behind both a balanced attack and a balanced defensive effort, Anderson outlasted Queens in five sets, 3-2 (18-25, 25-20, 25-12, 20-25, 15-7) in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action, Monday night at Curry Arena.
"The coaches and I kept challenging them in the timeouts to simply play hard like we do in practice and execute the things we know how to do," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. ". It was that simple. Yes, we had some ups and downs but in the end it was great to pull out a tough team win on the road. We prepared well all week and it was good to see things we worked on pay off. Tomorrow will be an off day and then it's back to work for a good Lenoir-Rhyne team on Friday at home."
Anderson improved to 4-2 overall and 4-2 in league action with its fourth straight win, including back-to-back road victories, while Queens (4-3, 3-3 SAC) has dropped two of its last three outings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior middle blocker Neely Shugart recorded seven kills and equaled the third-highest block assist total in school history by notching a career-high eight block assists. Freshman outside hitter Tabitha Wheeler notched her third straight double-double with 14 kills and 16 digs, while also posting a season-high four service aces and recording four block assists. Senior hitter Regan Duty added 14 kills and four block assists, while junior outside hitter Maya Learmonth also tallied 14 kills behind a .333 hitting percentage. Junior middle blocker Noelle Knutsen recorded 11 kills and six block assists, with junior setter Madison Roy capturing her third double-double of the season with a match-high 51 assists and 11 digs.
Sophomore Alexandra Petrilli posted a season-high 28 digs, with classmate sophomore Lindsay McCurley tallying 23 digs and junior Meghan DeVaux adding 16 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Queens hit .263 in the opening frame, but the Trojans held the upper-hand early in the frame by building a 9-4 advantage.
With AU still holding an 11-8 lead, the Royals used an 11-3 scoring outburst to take a lead they would not surrender. The Trojans battled back within three (19-16) but were unable to get any closer down the stretch.
Second Set
The Trojans took advantage of 10 attack errors by the Royals in the second frame – notching seven total blocks after not posting a block in the first set.
The score was tied seven times early, with Shugart and Duty combining for a block that snapped a 9-9 deadlock and ignited an 11-2 scoring run that included seven unanswered points. AU built the 20-11 advantage, then held off a late surge by the Royals.
Third Set
Duty and Knutsen combined for nine kills and AU posted a .500 hitting percentage as the Trojans rolled through the third set, winning by a comfortable 13-point margin.
Fourth Set
The Trojans held the early advantage, but Queens steadily pulled away from a 6-6 deadlock and opened a 17-10 lead before AU cut the deficit to just 22-18 late in the set. A kill from Knutsen later got the Black and Gold within 23-20, but the Royals claimed the win following a pair of Trojan miscues.
Fifth Set
With Duty knocking down back-to-back kills to open the decisive fifth set, AU never trailed after racing out to a 6-1 lead, and the Royals would get no closer than four the rest of the way.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Trojans recorded a season-high 28 block assists and equaled their season high with three solo blocks.
NOTABLES
• AU won its second straight road contest
• The Trojans had dropped four consecutive matches to the Royals.
• Three of the last four matchups with Queens have gone the full five-set distance.
• Regan Duty has reached double-figure kills in three of the last four matches.
• Maya Learmonth has reached double-figure kills in three straight matches.
• Alexandra Petrilli has reached double figure digs five times this season.
• Lindsay McCurley has reached double figure digs in three matches this season.
• Meghan DeVaux has reached double figure digs three times.
UP NEXT
Anderson will get back on the court, Friday when the Trojans play host to Lenoir-Rhyne before wrapping up their regular-season slate with a two-match road swing. First-serve vs. the Bears at the Abney Athletic Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
