CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Juniors Hailey Pittman and Shannon Gillespie each posted double-figure kills to help lead the Anderson volleyball team, as the Trojans opened a brief two-match South Atlantic Conference road swing by outpacing Queens University of Charlotte, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-9) Friday night at the Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation.

In just the second meeting since 2009, Anderson (7-7, 6-3 SAC) avenged last season's home loss at the hands of the Royals, while claiming its second straight win and sixth the last eight outings. Queens fell to 4-8 overall and 4-6 in league action and had their win streak halted at two.

"This was a much-needed win for our squad tonight," said Anderson head coach Craig Mosqueda. "We had many players step up and contribute, including Allison Gaminde, Taylor Underwood and Sarah Grace Kivett. Had it not been for their blocks, some great serves and incredible defensice plays I am not sure that we would have won. Shannon (Gillespie), Hailey (Pittman) and Tinsley (Hallman) had a great night offensively. Kelley (Lacey), Alix (Hooker) and Shannon (Gillespie) were great on the defensive end. I was very proud of the effort tonight."

While the first set featured five ties and three lead changes, the largest lead by the Royals in the opening set was four, while Anderson led by three on three occasions. The Trojans overcame an early 5-2 deficit to take their first lead of the frame, at 7-6, on a kill by Gillespie. With AU clinging to a 16-13 advantage, the Royals went on an 8-1 run to claim a 21-17 lead. But the Trojans responded with an 8-2 run of their own to take the opening set.

It was the Royals' turn in the second frame, as Queens again jumped out to an early lead, only to see the Trojans rally. However, with AU holding a 21-18 advantage, the Royals closed the set with a 7-2 surge to claim the win, as Queens' second-team all-conference selection Keri Kemp posted three kills.

The pattern continued into the third frame, with Queens again jumping out to a 5-1 edge. But the Trojans stayed close and evened the set at 16 apiece on a kill from Gillespie and took a lead they would not relinquish by capitalizing on a Royals miscue. AU pushed out to its largest lead of the set, at 24-19 on back-to-back errors by Queens and claimed the set on a kill from Pittman.

Queens answered in the fourth set, as the Royals garnered a quick 5-1 lead and never trailed, while leading by seven points midway through the frame.

Anderson's Tinsley Hallman snapped a 7-7 tie in the final set with her eighth kill of the night and with the redshirt freshman serving, the Trojans pushed out to a 13-9 cushion and took the win on back-to-back kills from Gillespie.

For the second consecutive match, AU posted a new season-high hitting percentage, as the Trojans recorded an attacking accuracy of .300 versus the Royals. Anderson committed just two errors in 17 attempts in the decisive fifth set for a .412 hitting percentage.

Pittman finished with a team-high 18 kills, while posting a .405 attack percentage. She added three digs and three block assists. Gillespie tallied 17 kills and 13 digs for her ninth double-double, while junior Meghan Cautero added 38 assists on the night. Junior Kelley Lacey came up with a match-high 19 digs, with junior Alix Hooker adding 15 digs. Freshman Jessica Harris collected two solo blocks and a pair of block assists.

Kemp led all players with 21 kills and Taylor Riley handed out a match-best 57 assists for the Royals.

Anderson will get back on court Saturday, when the Trojans visit Catawba. First-serve versus the Indians is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Goodman Gym.