ANDERSON, S.C. – With four players reaching double-figure kills, the Anderson University volleyball team rallied from an early one-set deficit to outpace Coker, 3-1 (22-25, 25-14, 25-14, 25-12) Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.
"It's always good to get the first win and see the team loosen up a bit," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "Our serve game, especially Meghan DeVaux, was strong and the defense at the net and back row really stepped up in sets two through four. We will have to be very solid again on Tuesday for a veteran Mars Hill team."
Anderson improved to 1-2 on the season, while Coker slipped to 1-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior setter Madison Roy posted a double-double with 44 assists and 14 digs, with fellow junior Meghan DeVaux adding 10 digs and tying for third-highest in the school record books by dealing seven service aces. Senior Regan Duty led all players with 14 kills behind a .393 hitting percentage, while freshman outside hitter Tabitha Wheeler added 13 kills and six digs. Junior middle blocker Neely Shugart tallied 10 kills on the strength of a .571 hitting percentage and junior middle blocker Noelle Knutsen also notched 10 kills. Sophomores Lindsay McCurley and Alexandra Petrilli came up with 12 digs apiece, with Petrilli adding a pair of aces on the afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Trojans scored the first three points of the set, but were unable to ultimately overcome seven attack errors.
Wirth AU leading 4-1 early, the Cobras went on a 6-2 run to claim their first lead of the set, with neither team able to build more than a four-point advantage throughout the opening frame.
The score was deadlocked seven more times before Coker snapped an 18-18 deadlock with two straight points and held on for the three-point victory.
Second Set
Despite a .324 hitting percentage in the second set, the Trojans fell behind early but rallied to claim a 10-9 lead on a kill by Shugart and AU would not trail again.
After pushing out to a 14-12 advantage, the Trojans closed the set on an 11-2 outburst that included a stretch of eight unanswered points. Duty sparked the run with a kill and with DeVaux serving on seven of the points, Knutsen posted three kills.
After getting to set point, Wheeler clinched the win with an ace.
Third Set
The Trojans jumped out to a quick 9-2 advantage and led wire-to-wire with Wheeler notching three kills and Duty, Knutsen and Shugart each adding a pair of kills.
After opening a 17-10 lead on a kill from Duty that forced a Coker timeout, the Trojans closed the set with an 8-4 surge to secure the double-digit win.
Fourth Set
DeVaux broke a 5-5 tie with her fifth ace of the afternoon and added two more, as the Trojans doubled up the Cobras, 10-5, and steadily built a 17-9 cushion on Shugart's third kill of the set.
After the Black and Gold opened a double-digit, 22-12, on a kill from Roy, Wheeler notched her sixth kill of the set before AU score the final two points on Coker miscues.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
DeVaux's seven aces ties six former standouts for third-place in the school record books.
NOTABLES
• The Trojans have not lost to Coker since the Cobras swept the regular-season series in 2007.
• AU recorded a season-high .306 attack percentage.
• The Trojans have recorded more service aces than each of their three opponents.
UP NEXT
Anderson will wrap up its season-opening four-match homestand by playing host to Mars Hill, Tuesday night. First-serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Abney Center.
