ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the second time in less than 24 hours, the third-seeded Anderson University volleyball team extended the match about as far as it could go, but the Trojans came up just short in their bid for the program's first-ever South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship, as No.4 seed Lenoir-Rhyne outlasted the Black and Gold, 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 15-25, 25-18, 17-15) Saturday afternoon at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center.

"I was proud of our effort today and the ability to come back when we got down in set five," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "Unfortunately, we came up a bit short, but learned some valuable things we can take into the regional after Thanksgiving. We are excited to see where things stand on Monday."

Anderson (22-7) saw its win streak halted at 10 and will await an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament when the selections are unveiled on Monday night. Lenoir-Rhyne improved to 22-7 with its fourth straight win and claimed the league's automatic bid to next month's NCAA Southeast Regional.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Sophomore Sadie Kluner knocked down a career-high 21 kills and came up with four digs, while classmate Jaelyn Grimm added 11 kills, a solo block and a pair of block assists. Sophomore outside hitter Tabitha Wheeler notched 10 kills and two block assists, with Noelle Knutsen tallying nine kills and four block assists. Senior Regan Duty posted eight kills and two digs.

Junior setter Madison Roy notched her 12th double-double of the season with 50 assists and 10 digs, while chipping in four block assists. Senior Meghan DeVaux led AU with 19 digs, while junior Lindsay McCurley tallied 18 digs and Alexandra Petrilli recorded 11 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The opening set foreshadowed the rest of the afternoon, as the frame featured six ties before the Trojans snapped a 10-10 deadlock with an 8-3 run.

After opening the five-point lead, the Trojans held at least a five-point margin the rest of the way, with AU hitting .314 and Kluner and Wheeler combining for nine kills.

Second Set
The Bears jumped out to a quick 7-1 lead, but AU used a 10-4 surge to knot the score for the only time of the set.

The Trojans stayed close but were unable to wrestle the lead away and finally fell by the five-point margin.

Third Set
The Trojans posted an impressive .448 hitting percentage and Kluner notched six kills for the second time in three sets.

With DeVaux serving, the Trojans snapped a 4-4 tie, pushed out to an 11-4 advantage and never looked back en route to the double-digit win.

Fourth Set
It was LR's turn in the fourth frame, as the Bears broke an 11-11 deadlock with a 6-2 run. AU climbed back within three (18-15) but were unable to trim the deficit any further.

Fifth Set
While the Bears grabbed an early 7-2 lead, the Trojans refused to fold and rallied to claim a late 14-12 advantage, but were unable to close the door on Lenoir-Rhyne.

The Bears countered with three straight points to reach match point before Knutsen evened the score for the final time, at 15-15, with LR answering with back-to-back scores to claim the championship.

NOTABLES
• The Trojans have won two regular-season SAC titles and were seeking their first SAC Tournament crown.
• AU had won 10 straight over Lenoir-Rhyne after the Bears swept the 2016 regular-season series. The Trojans and Bears have met 27 times in the overall series that dates back to the 1999 campaign, with AU holding a 16-11 advantage.
• AU and LR were meeting for the second time this season – The Trojans swept LR in early October at the Abney Center.
• The Trojans and Bears had met just one other time in the history of the SAC Tournament – AU swept the Bears in the 2013 SAC Quarterfinals.
• The Trojans will be making the school's sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in nine seasons next month. (Due to COVID-19, the NCAA did not host a championship in 2019-2020).
• AU made its 10th consecutive trip to the conference tournament and its 11th overall appearance after joining the league for the 2010 campaign.
• Anderson is 11-11 in its 11 appearances in the conference tournament.
• The Trojans have reached the 20+ win plateau for the fourth straight season and fifth time in seven years (excluding the Spring '20 COVID-19 shortened season.

UP NEXT
The NCAA D-II Tournament selections are scheduled to be released on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. on www.ncaa.com.