ANDERSON, S.C. - Behind a .285 hitting percentage, the visiting Tusculum volleyball team dampened Homecoming festivities for Anderson, as the Pioneers recorded a 3-1 (25-10, 25-17, 23-25, 25-12) South Atlantic Conference victory over the Trojans, Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.

With the setback, Anderson (9-12, 7-8 SAC) dropped its third consecutive decision and suffered its eighth loss in 10 outings. Tusculum improved to 10-11 overall and 7-8 in the conference with its third win in four decisions, while earning a split of the season series.

Sophomore Marissa Mitter led the Trojans with nine kills and recorded four digs, with sophomore Serena Jackson adding eight kills behind a team-best .350 attack percentage. Despite being hampered by an injury, redshirt junior Priscilla Irizarry posted her ninth double-double of the season with 29 assists and 14 digs. Freshman Emily Conard notched her 18th straight contest with double-figure digs by tallying a team high 21, with fellow freshmen Jalyn Knight and Megan Embry chipping in 10 apiece.

Tusculum scored the first seven points of the opening set en route to opening a 12-1 advantage and the Trojans were unable to recover. Anderson trimmed the deficit to eight points twice, but could get no closer as the Pioneers regained a double-digit lead before closing the frame with five consecutive points.

Anderson led by two midway through the second set, but the Pioneers snapped a 14-14 score with six unanswered points to take control of the frame and went on to claim the eight-point win.

The third set was a different story, with the Trojans scoring the first three points of the frame and refusing to relinquish the lead the rest of the way. Anderson pushed out to a 12-6 advantage on an ace from Irizarry and a kill from Jackson, then capitalized on Knight's strong serving to claim a double-digit, 17-7, advantage. Tusculum countered with a 14-5 run to get within 22-21, but AU took advantage of a Pioneer miscue to regain a two-point lead. Following a kill from the Pioneers, Jackson posted a solo block to move the Trojans to set point, at 24-22. The two teams then traded kills, as Mitter knocked down the set-winning kill.

The Trojans committed four attack errors in the fourth set and hit just .069 compared to Tusculum's .333 hitting accuracy. Similar to the opening set, the Pioneers built an 11-3 cushion, and the Trojans could get no closer than seven the rest of the way.

Anderson will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday, when Newberry invades the Abney Center. First-serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

RESULTS