GAFFNEY, S.C. - Paced by sophomore Hailey Pittman and freshman Victoria Wehrmann's game-high 12 kills and Alix Hooker's game-best 19 digs, the Anderson volleyball team opened play in the Limestone College Classic with a hard-fought 3-0 (25-23, 28-26, 25-16) win past Southern Wesleyan Friday night at the Timken Center.

Anderson claimed a win in its season opener, while Southern Wesleyan (2-3) had its two-match win streak snapped.

The opening set saw the Trojans rally from a 9-4 deficit to knot the score at 14 apiece, as AU took advantage of a pair of serving errors by the Warriors and Pittman knocked down three kills.

Anderson again trailed late, at 22-20, but reeled off three consecutive points to take the lead and claimed the final points of the set on back-to-back kills by Alix Hooker and Wehrmann and another error by Southern Wesleyan.

It was AU's turn to gain the early advantage in the second set, as the Trojans jumped out to a 9-5 edge on the strength of strong serving by sophomore Kalie Endres. But the Warriors stayed close, eventually turning a 22-18 Trojan lead into a 24-23 SWU advantage. However, Wehrmann answered with a kill for the Trojans to even the score at 24-24 and AU earned the win with Endres serving for the final two points.

The third and final set was less dramatic, as the Trojans broke away from a narrow 12-11 lead with a 9-1 run to gain a 21-12 cushion. Sophomore Meaghan Cautero and Pittman provided the serves, while Wehrmann and sophomore Shannon Gillespie each added a pair of kills during the outburst.

Hooker, a sophomore, led the way defensively with her 19 digs while Endres added 14. Cautero dished out a match-high 35 assists and Pittman posted an impressive .545 attack percentage without an error in 22 attempts for her 12 kills. Wehrmann committed just six errors in her debut with the Black and Gold and Gillespie added 11 kills on the evening.

Sophomore Cherilyn Ramsey led the Warriors with 10 kills, with junior Kelsey Deerinwater recording 18 digs and junior Hayley Hoover notching 21 assists.

Anderson closes out play in the Classic on Saturday by squaring off against Brenau at noon and facing the host Saints at 2 p.m.