ANDERSON, S.C. – Behind a balanced offensive and defensive effort, the Anderson University volleyball team took another step toward claiming its second South Atlantic Conference regular season title in five seasons by sweeping Newberry, 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-15) Tuesday night at the Abney Athletic Center.

"I was very proud of the team tonight and how they were able to respond to a determined Newberry squad," said Anderson head coach Todd Hay. "Overall, it was our defense and service pressure that was able to give us momentum and then fuel our offense. The team also fed off the energy from the crowd which was very influential tonight. We hope to see everyone back for senior night on Friday."

Anderson (19-6, 14-3 SAC) won its seventh straight outing and is currently alone at the top of the league standings, a half-game ahead of both Wingate and Tusculum, which were idle Tuesday night. Mars Hill knocked off Lenoir-Rhyne in four sets – pushing the Bears into fourth place.

Newberry slipped to 12-13 overall and 6-11 in the SAC, while seeing its win streak halted at two.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Middle blocker Noelle Knutsen shared match-high honors with 10 kills on the strength of a .350 hitting percentage, while adding a solo block and a pair of block assists. Sophomore Tabitha Wheeler tallied nine kills, with senior right-side hitter Regan Duty notching eight kills with just one error in just 16 swings for a .438 hitting accuracy. Sophomores Jaelyn Grimm and Sadie Kluner each added seven kills apiece and combined to post a .406 hitting percentage, with Grimm notching three service aces.

Madison Roy recorded 31 assists, 12 digs a solo block and a block assist, while freshman Hannah Neff came up with 11 digs and Meghan DeVaux garnered 10 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Trojans scored the first three points of the set and although Newberry chipped away and knotted the score at 7-7, AU never surrendered the lead.

AU edged out to a 14-11 lead on a kill from Knutsen, and built a 16-12 advantage on a Wolves error – equaling their largest lead of the set.

Newberry trimmed the Trojan lead to two on three more occasions and climbed within one (21-20) before Knutsen slowed the Wolves with her third kill of the frame. Newberry's Elizabeth Ober again drew the visitors within just one, at 22-21, but the Trojans capitalized on another error to claim a 23-21 lead, with DeVaux posting a decisive ace and Grimm clinching the win with her fourth kill.

Second Set
Newberry grabbed the early momentum and built a quick 6-1 lead, but the Trojans whittled away at the deficit and eventually knotted the score at 10 apiece on a kill from Wheeler.

The Wolves countered with two unanswered points before AU answered with four straight points of its own to take a brief 14-12 lead. It was then Newberry's turn to score four straight, with the Trojans again bouncing back with four consecutive points to gain an 18-16 edge when Knutsen and Wheeler combined on a block.

After wrestling the lead away, the Trojans pushed out to a six-point lead before taking the win by a six-point margin.

Third Set
The Trojans doubled up Newberry, 10-5, early and again at 18-9, with the Trojans hitting .371 during the final set.

The Wolves were unable to get any closer than seven down the stretch.

NOTABLES
• AU has clinched at least a No. 3 seed in the 2021 South Atlantic Conference Championship, and will host a quarterfinal round match on Tuesday, Nov. 16.
• The Trojans lead Wingate and Tusculum by a half-game, with Lenoir-Rhyne slipping into fourth place after falling to Mars Hill.
• Wingate does not play again until Thursday and again Saturday, with Tusculum slated to close out its season with matches on Friday and Saturday.
• AU improved to 7-2 at the Abney Center this season.
• The Trojans have won 11 of their last 12 outings.
• AU swept the regular-season series with Newberry
• The Trojans improved to 24-9 in the overall series that dates back to the 1999 campaign.
• Regan Duty is hitting .372 over the last 10 matches.

UP NEXT
Anderson is scheduled to close out its regular season by playing host to Limestone, Friday night at the Abney Center. The Trojans will recognize five seniors prior to the contest for their dedication and service to AU (Regan Duty, Maya Learmonth, Hannah Worsham, Meghan DeVaux and Neely Shugart). First-serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.