ANDERSON, S.C. – Senior middle blocker Noelle Knutsen knocked down a career-high 24 kills and added six total blocks, while sophomore Jaelyn Grimm added a career-best 17 kills to propel the Anderson University volleyball team past Lincoln Memorial, 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 21-25, 15-7) in South Atlantic Conference action, Friday night at the Abney Athletic Center.

Anderson extended its win streak to four and improved to 12-5 overall and 7-2 in the league, while Lincoln Memorial (5-11, 3-7 SAC) has dropped three of its last five decisions.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Knutsen finished her career night with a .455 hitting percentage, as the Parker, Colo., native committed just four miscues in 44 swings. Grimm posted her career-best night behind a .387 hitting percentage, while chipping in a solo block and two block assists. Senior Regan Duty tallied seven kills and a pair of block assists, while sophomore Sadie Kluner notched six kills.

Junior setter Madison Roy handed out 52 assists and came up with seven digs, with Lindsay McCurley, Meghan DeVaux and Hannah Neff each recording 11 digs apiece. Neff also laced a match-best three service aces, while junior Alexandra Petrilli tallied 10 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Knutsen posted five kills in the opening frame, with Grimm adding three kills.

The Trojans trailed twice early, but Knutsen triggered a 7-1 surge with a pair of kills and a solo block, while Learmonth fueled the run with a pair of kills to give AU a 10-4 lead and the Trojans would not trail again.

Lincoln Memorial climbed within three on three occasions, but would get no closer than 22-16 down the stretch, with AU scoring the final three points of the set.

Second Set
Knutsen and Grimm combined for 12 kills in the second set and despite LMU's .500 hitting percentage, the Trojans stayed with the Railsplitters swing-for-swing.

The score was knotted 11 times in the early going before the Railsplitters snapped an 11-11 deadlock with three straight points. The Trojans still trailed by three (20-17) before rallying to even the score at 20 apiece. But LMU countered with back-to-back points to regain the lead and held the edge the rest of the way.

Third Set
The Trojans posted a dozen kills without an attack error in 36 attempts in the third set.

Neither team was able to build more than a three-point advantage until AU capitalized on a miscue by the Railsplitters to claim a late 20-16 lead. Knutsen and Tabitha Wheeler then combined on a block to stretch the cushion to five and LMU could get no closer than four in the final moments.

Fourth Set
AU reversed course in the fourth set and committed 13 attack errors, with LMU posting a pair of solo blocks and a dozen block assists to lead the way defensively.

The Railsplitters steadily pushed out to a 15-12 advantage and still led, 18-14, before Knutsen knocked down a kill and LMU committed an error to get AU within just two (18-16). But LMU took away the momentum with three consecutive points and held off the Trojans down the stretch.

Fifth Set
The Trojans jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the decisive fifth set, and with Knutsen and Duty providing the early firepower, AU ran out to an insurmountable 9-4 lead and went on to claim the eight-point win.

STAT OF THE NIGHT
The 23 total blocks by both teams tied the season high set earlier in the season in the Sept. 11 match against Mary.

NOTABLES
• The Trojans are 53-8 (.869) in the Electric City over the past five seasons.
• LMU holds a 16-13 advantage in the overall series between the two schools.
• AU stretched its win streak to four over the Lady Railsplitters and has won eight of the last nine matchups.
• The Trojans committed a season-high nine service errors.
• Madison Roy has dished out at least 50 assists six times and was one shy of equaling her career high.
• Noelle Knutsen has posted double-digit kills six times this season.
• Jaelyn Grimm has totaled double-digit kills on six occasions.
• Hannah Neff has reached double-digit digs 11 times this season and leads the Trojans with 25 service aces on the year.
• Meghan DeVaux has reached double-figure digs 12 times this season.
• Lindsay McCurley has tallied double-figure digs nine times on the year.
• Alexandra Petrilli has reached double-figure digs on six occasions this season.

UP NEXT
Anderson will be seeking its fifth straight win when Carson-Newman invades the Abney Center, Saturday afternoon. First-serve against the Eagles is set for 2 p.m.