ANDERSON, S.C. - Despite stellar offensive performances from juniors Shannon Gillespie and Hailey Pittman and junior Kelley Lacey's defensive efforts, the Anderson volleyball team opened the season with a pair of setbacks at the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic, hosted by Florida Southern Friday at Jenkins Field House.

Anderson (0-2) dropped a 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 14-25, 25-27, 7-15) five-set duel to UW-Parkside in the season opener, then fell 3-0 (17-25, 10-25, 18-25) to host Florida Southern in its second contest of the day.

Anderson gained an early advantage in the opener, but UW-Parkside overcame the Trojans' two-set lead to claim the season opener for both teams.

"I thought it was a very winnable match for us." said Anderson head coach Craig Mosqueda following the opener. "Parkside made a few adjustments in game three and we did the same in game four. However, we did not play with consistent intensity the entire fourth set. We did meet some team goals but missed a few others. Once we start hitting all our goals we will be tough to beat."

AU rallied from an early 6-2 deficit in the first set versus the Rangers , taking its first lead since scoring the first point of the set when junior Meghan Cautero's kill snapped an 11-11 tie. With junior Alix Hooker serving, the Trojans claimed a 15-11 edge and never trailed the rest of the way.

The Trojans pushed out to a five-point lead on five occasions and claimed its largest lead of the set at 24-18 before newcomer Tinsley Hallman clinched the frame with one of her three service aces on the day.

The second set featured 11 ties and six lead changes before Gillespie's kill off an assist from Cautero gave AU a 19-18 advantage and a lead the Trojans would not relinquish. AU took advantage of a UWP error to build a 24-20 cushion, with Lacey notching the final point of the set with a kill.

The Rangers jumped out to an early 8-3 lead in the third set and the Trojans were unable to recover, as UW-Parkside built a late double-digit lead en route to the win.

It was Anderson's turn to take an 8-3 lead in the fourth set, but the Rangers chipped away and eventually took their largest lead of the set, at 21-17, before the Trojans rallied to force three tie scores in the final moments before UW-Parkside claimed the narrow win.

AU fell behind early in the fifth and deciding set and was unable to rally, with the Rangers taking the victory.

Florida Southern, which earned votes in the Preseason AVCA Coaches Poll, trailed just once to AU in the Trojans' second match of the day, as the host Moccasins took an early lead and pushed out to an eight-point lead late in the opening set.

With Lacey serving, Anderson claimed a 4-1 lead early in the second set but was unable to hold off FSC, as the Mocs took the win. The third set saw seven tie scores before Florida Southern claimed a 14-13 lead and went on to the win in their season opener.

"We had our moments where we fought hard and competed," Mosqueda. "But Florida Southern is a very good team. We will use this experience to help us grow. {Priscilla] Irizarry came off the bench and made a positive contribution."

Gillespie led the Trojan with 27 kills on the day, while Pittman added 20 and Hallman chipped in 11. Cautero handed out a combined 67 assists, with Hooker garnering 32 digs on the day. Lacey collected 28 digs, with Gillespie adding 22. Cautero and Sarah Kivett each notched 16 digs.

The Trojans will look for their first win of the season when they square off against Northwood in the tourney's first match Saturday at 10 a.m., then face No. 2 ranked Tampa Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.