SALISBURY, N.C. - Despite double-figure kills from junior Jessica Harris and sophomore Marissa Mitter, the Anderson volleyball team wrapped up its road swing through the Tar Heel State with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 26-24) setback to Catawba in South Atlantic Conference play, Saturday afternoon at Goodman Gym.

Anderson (9-10, 7-6 SAC) has dropped two of its last three decisions, while Catawba improved to 11-9 overall and 8-5 in league action by avenging an earlier loss to the Trojans with its third straight victory and fourth win in five outings. The Lady Indians also snapped a seven-match losing streak at the hands of the Trojans.

Harris led the Trojans for the second consecutive outing with a match-high 13 kills, marking her fifth double-figure kill contest of the season, while posting a .357 attack percentage. Mitter reached double-figure kills for the sixth time of the season, tallying 11 on the day, while recording seven digs. Redshirt junior Priscilla Irizarry handed out 30 assists, with freshman Megan Embry coming up with a match-high 15 digs. Fellow freshman Emily Conard added 13 digs, while newcomer Jayln Knight tallied nine digs.

The Trojans were unable to contain the red-hot Lady Indians in the opening set, as Catawba jumped out to an early 14-2 lead and the double-digit deficit proved to be too much for Anderson to overcome, as the Trojans committed four attack errors in the early going, while the homestanding Lady Indians built the cushion behind an impressive .500 hitting percentage.

The Trojans climbed within nine on a kill from Mitter, but would get no closer the rest of the way. Catawba built a 13-point lead late in the frame and claimed the first set after posting a .324 attack percentage.

The Trojans nearly forced a reversal of fortunes in the second set, but their late rally fell just short, with Catawba coming from behind for the narrow win.
The frame saw 12 ties, including six in the final minutes, but just four lead changes, as AU had trouble wresting the advantage from the Lady Indians.

With the score deadlocked at six apiece, five unanswered points by Catawba midway through the set proved crucial. After falling behind, 17-12, a kill by Mitter, followed by back-to-back kills from AU sophomore Serena Jackson ignited a 6-0 run that gave the Trojans their first lead since 3-2. After Catawba recaptured a brief one-point, 21-20, advantage, the Trojans evened the score twice, but were unable to regain the lead, with the Lady Indians posting three of the final four points for the win.

Anderson began the third set by opening a 7-4 advantage on a kill by Allison Gaminde, but the Lady Indians responded with three straight points to even the score for the first time, at seven apiece. Following back-to-back points by the Trojans for a 9-7 edge, Catawba countered with an 8-2 surge that gave the Lady Indians their first lead of the set, at 12-9. It was then AU's turn, as a kill from Jackson sparked an 8-1 run. Harris and Mitter chipped in kills during the surge, with three consecutive attack errors by Catawba fueling the comeback. The Trojans pushed out to another four-point advantage, at 20-16, before Catawba answered with three straight points a part of a 6-2 run to knot the score at 22-22. Jackson's seventh kill of the contest gave Anderson a brief one-point lead, but Catawba quickly answered. Harris knocked down another kill to move AU to set point, at 24-23, but the Lady Indians responded with the final three points.

Anderson returns to the Electric City for a three-match homestand, beginning with Mars Hill on Friday. First-serve versus the Lions is scheduled for 7 p.m.