MARS HILL, N.C. - Despite having four players post double-figure kills, the Anderson University volleyball team opened a three-match South Atlantic Conference road swing with a five-set, 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 25-16, 21-25, 15-17) loss at Mars Hill, Friday night at Stanford Arena.

After dropping the opening set, the Trojans roared back by winning the next two frames to claim a one-set advantage, but were unable to hold off the homestanding Lions. The Trojans have gone the full five-set distance in three of their last four decisions after opening the season with four consecutive three-set contests.

Anderson (4-4, 2-1 SAC) suffered its first conference loss of the season and second road loss overall, while Mars Hill (4-4, 2-2 SAC) snapped a two-game skid by winning its first home contest of the young season.

Sophomore Serena Jackson led the Trojans with 11 kills on the strength of a .370 hitting percentage, while redshirt junior Tinsley Hallman posted her fourth straight double-double with 10 kills and 25 digs on the night. Junior Jessica Harris added 10 kills and eight total blocks, with fellow junior Allison Gaminde also tallying 10 kills. Redshirt junior Priscilla Irizarry notched her third double-double of the season by handing out a match-high 37 assists and recording 18 digs. Freshman Megan Embry posted 13 digs, while the freshman duo of Jalyn Knight and Emily Conard added 14 digs and 25 digs, respectively.

Mars Hill posted an impressive .300 attack percentage in the opening set, with the Trojans scoring the first point of the match. But it proved to be their only lead of the set, as Mars Hill countered by scoring five of the next seven points to claim a lead it would not relinquish, at 5-3. The Lions steadily built a 16-9 cushion before AU trimmed the deficit to four on six occasions and battled back within 22-19 on a Mars Hill error late in the set. However, the Lions answered by posting the final three points of the frame.

The Trojans capitalized on eight Mars Hill errors in the second set, with the frame featuring four early ties and three lead changes. The beginning of the second set was nearly identical to the first frame, as the Trojans posted the first point on a service ace from Jayln Knight, while Mars Hill answered by scoring four consecutive points. Trailing, 6-5, the Trojans rallied with a 9-2 outburst behind the strong serving of Hallman and Kristen Johnson, with Gaminde knocking down a pair of kills. AU built a seven-point lead, then held off a late charge by the Lions to preserve the win.

AU jumped out to a quick 9-3 advantage in the third set, as Harris recorded four of her kills in the early going. After the Lions trimmed the cushion to 11-8, the Trojans rattled off another 9-2 surge to take control of the set with a double-digit lead.

Mars Hill opened the fourth frame by scoring five unanswered points and, while the Trojans rallied within a single point late on an ace by Kristen Johnson, AU was unable to overtake the Lions.

The Lions got off to a fast start in the fifth and deciding set with the first three points, but AU again battled back and snapped a 6-6 deadlock with 6-2 surge on a kill by Jackson. The Trojans then built a 14-10 advantage, but Mars Hill withstood match point four times to even the score at 15 apiece and went on to take the narrow two-point win.

Anderson will get back on the court Saturday, when the Trojans visit Tusculum for a noon showdown in Greenville, Tenn.