GAFFNEY, S.C. – Paced by junior outside hitter Maya Learmonth's match-high 16 kills, Anderson opened a three-match South Atlantic Conference road swing by outpacing Limestone, 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-19, 25-14) Friday night at the Timken Center.
"It's always good to get a win on the road and learn what it takes to play in another gym," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "I felt like our offense was pretty well balanced and serving was key at some crucial moments. We still need to clean up some defensive things, but overall we are happy with the win."
Anderson (3-2, 3-2 SAC) extended its win streak to three matches, while Limestone (0-3, 0-3 SAC) is still seeking its first win of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Learmonth notched her season-high in kills behind a .333 hitting percentage, while junior middle blocker Noelle Knutsen added 12 kills and five total blocks. Freshman Tabitha Wheeler posted a double-double with 10 kills and 16 digs. Junior setter Madison Roy dished out 50 assists to go along with five digs and four block assists. Sophomore Alexandra Petrilli came up with a match-best 22 digs with junior Meghan DeVaux notching eight digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
With AU trailing, 6-5, early Knutsen evened the score with her second kill of the night and sparked an 11-3 run by the Trojans that gave them a lead they wouldn't surrender. Knutsen also added a pair of blocks and another kill during the surge and the Trojans took advantage of five attack errors by the Saints during the surge.
The Trojans went on to build a late double-digit lead and claim the 10-point victory.
Second Set
The Trojans struck early and built a quick 4-1 advantage before Limestone came back to knot the score at 6-6 and again at 9-9, before AU snapped a 14-14 deadlock with a kill by Learmonth and following an error by the Trojans, Knutsen posted a kill and Petrilli notched an ace to give AU a 17-15 edge.
But Limestone responded by scoring three straight points and the set featured five more ties before the Saints claimed the narrow two-point win.
Third Set
With the score deadlocked at 10-10 after eight ties, Roy posted a kill and the Trojans claimed a two-point edge on an error by the Saints.
Limestone trimmed AU's lead to just one before the Trojans pushed out to a five-point lead (19-14) on a block from Rylie Sargent that forced a Limestone timeout. The break did nothing to change the momentum, as the Trojans maintained the margin the rest of the way.
Fourth Set
The Trojans led from start to finish in the fourth and final set after scoring the first three points. After AU built a tenuous, 9-7, lead Wheeler began serving and with the Greenville native serving, AU reeled off 12 straight points to take command of the set.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Trojans posted 10 service aces on the night, with Lindsay McCurley, Petrilli, Roy, Wheeler and DeVaux each recording two apiece.
NOTABLES
• Tonight's match marked the first meeting between the two programs since the 2014 campaign.
• The Trojans captured their seventh consecutive win over the Saints and their 10th victory in the last 12 meetings in the overall series between the two programs.
• Anderson holds a 28-8 advantage in the overall series.
UP NEXT
Following a six-day break, Anderson will get back on the court Friday, when the Trojans visit Catawba. First-serve in Salisbury, N.C. is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Goodman Gym.
