ANDERSON, S.C. – The second-seeded Anderson University volleyball team's bid to earn a spot in the NCAA's Sweet 16 for the first time in program history fell just shy, as sixth-seeded Augusta edged the Trojans, 3-2, (26-24, 16-25, 18-25, 25-15, 15-11), Friday night at the Abney Athletic Center.

Anderson (23-8) wrapped up its season by winning 11 of its last 13 decisions and 16 of its last 19, while earning the program's highest seed in its seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

Augusta (23-8) has won six in a row and 10 of its last 11 outings and has advanced to the regional title match for the second straight time and the second time in program history. The Lady Jags will square off against top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne for the right to move on to next week's NCAA Elite 8 in Tampa.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Sophomore Tabitha Wheeler led the Trojans with 13 kills, while senior right-side hitter Regan Duty added 12 kills. Sophomore Sadie Kluner tallied 10 kills and a season-high seven block assists, with Noelle Knutsen recording nine kills on the strength of a .348 hitting percentage. The Parker, Colo., native also equaled her season high with nine block assists.

Junior setter Madison Roy handed out 41 assists and narrowly missed her 14th double-double of the season with nine digs. The North Myrtle Beach native also notched a solo block and four block assists. senior Meghan DeVaux came up with a match-best 27 digs, with Hannah Neff and Lindsay McCurley recording 18 digs and 17 digs, respectively. Alexandra Petrilli tallied 11 digs.

STAT OF THE NIGHT
Augusta hit .458 in the decisive fifth set.

NOTABLES
• The Trojans made their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and their seventh overall appearance.
• The No. 2 seed was the highest seed for the Black and Gold since claiming the No. 4 seed in both 2017 and 2018.
• The Trojans are now 4-7 in their seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Trojans are the seventh team in program history - and the third team in four seasons (excluding last season's COVID-shortened campaign) - to win at least 23 matches in a season.
• Augusta is making its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
• Regan Duty finished the season with a career-best .295 hitting percentage.
• Duty ranks 13th in the school record books with 934 career kills and 2.54 kills per set.
• Meghan DeVaux ranks 12th in the AU record books with 1,429 career digs and eighth with 3.62 career digs per set average.
• Noelle Knutsen currently ranks eighth in the school record books with 255 career blocks.
• Madison Roy currently ranks seventh in the school record books with 1,909 career assists and third with 10.61 assists per set.