ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson University volleyball team fell to defending conference champion Wingate, 3-0 (19-25, 25-27, 16-25) in South Atlantic Conference play Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.

Anderson slipped to 9-9 overall and 2-6 in league action, dropping its fourth decision in the last five outings. Wingate (13-2, 4-2 SAC), the preseason favorite to claim its seventh consecutive league title, has won four straight since losing a pair of contests in mid-September.

The Bulldogs snapped an early 2-2 tie with an 8-2 run to take a 10-4 lead in the opening set. Trailing by four, at 16-12, the Trojans reeled off three unanswered points on a pair of service aces from sophomore Kelley Lacey and a Wingate miscue to climb back within 16-15. But following a Wingate timeout, the Bulldogs posted another 8-2 outburst to claim a 24-17 edge. The Trojans held Wingate at set point twice, but Bulldog junior Allison Rickher ended the first frame with a kill.

The Trojans grabbed a 10-7 lead in the second set, and while Wingate countered with eight unanswered points to claim a 15-10 advantage, AU refused to surrender and posted a 10-4 outburst of its own to pull within a point of winning the second set by gaining a 25-24 lead. Sophomore Hailey Pittman led the surge with three kills and the Trojans capitalized on three Wingate errors. But Wingate survived to claim the set as AU committed three consecutive errors of its own.

Wingate carried the momentum into the third frame, jumping out to a 16-4 lead before the Trojans battled back to within 19-14. Freshman middle blocker Cameron Ohls and freshman outside hitter Victoria Wehrmann each notched a pair of kills during the rally, while sophomore Shannon Gillespie added two service aces. But it was as close as the Trojans would get, as sophomore Susie Murach answered with a kill to push the Wingate advantage back to six.

Sophomore Hailey Pittman led the Trojans with nine kills, while Gillespie added eight kills and 10 digs. Wehrmann chipped in seven kills and recorded a team-best .278 attack percentage. Sophomore Meghan Cautero, who entered the weekend leading the league in assists, handed out 18, while fellow sophomore Alix Hooker recorded a match-high 17 digs.

First-team Preseason All-SAC selection Anna Hilton posted 10 kills and 12 digs to lead Wingate, while sophomore Lexi Potter added nine kills. Murach added nine kills as well, while sophomore setter Alison Cooke handed out a match-best 27 assists. Junior Rianne Lang posted 14 digs.

Anderson travels to Newberry for a one-match conference road swing on Tuesday. First-serve versus the Wolves is slated for 7 p.m.