ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson University volleyball team dropped a hard-fought five-set decision 3-2 (14-25, 25-19, 25-23, 21-25, 12-15) to Tusculum in South Atlantic Conference action Friday night at the Abney Athletic Center.

Anderson (7-2, 1-1 SAC) had its three-match win streak halted in its home opener, while Tusculum (2-8, 1-1 SAC) notched its second win in its last three outings.

Senior Hailey Pittman knocked down a match-high 23 kills on a team-best .467 hitting percentage and added five total blocks. Freshman Marissa Mitter recorded a season-high 12 kills, while redshirt sophomore Priscilla Irizarry handed out 34 assists and posted 10 digs for her third double-double of the season. Freshman Tatianna Grodecky dished out 12 assists and came up with seven digs. Senior Alix Hooker recorded a season-best 33 digs, with senior Shannon Gillespie adding 22 digs and seven kills.

The first set was tied just once early, but Anderson was never able to garner the lead in the opening frame. Tusculum pushed out to a 12-4 lead and the Trojans were unable to get closer than four the rest of the way.

The score was knotted 12 times in the second set, with the Trojans snapping an 18-18 tie on a kill by Mitter and posting the final four points of the frame to take the set victory.

After falling behind,12-6, in the third frame, AU stayed close and chipped away at the deficit, finally taking its fifth lead of the set, at 24-23, on back-to-back kills from Pittman.

The two teams combined for 17 attack errors in the fourth set, with the Trojans scoring the first four points of the frame and taking an early 8-1 advantage. But the Pioneers countered with a 9-2 surge to even the score at 10 apiece. AU answered by taking a pair of four-point leads, and led 20-16 before Tusculum closed the set with a 9-1 run.

The fifth set saw eight ties before the visitors snapped a 12-12 score by posting the final three points of the set to secure the win.

Anderson wraps up the brief two-match homestand by playing host to Mars Hill Saturday afternoon. First-serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Abney Center.