HICKORY, N.C. -- The Anderson volleyball team stepped up to the challenge going into the Shuford Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday night and handed the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears just their fourth overall loss and third conference loss on the season. The Trojans move to 15-9 overall and 11-5 in the South Atlantic Conference where they sit at fourth place.

"We hung in there a found a way to win in a gym that hasn't been to kind to us as of late," head coach Todd Hay said. "Our defense and some really timely kills and blocks gave us just enough. This was a good win for us and I hope we can build on it going forward."

The Trojans fell to the Bears, who have been receiving votes in the national polls multiple times this season, in September in a five set standoff.

While the two offenses were in an even battle, the Trojan defense stepped up with 74 digs to the Bears' 58.

Graduate student Libby Nieporte had a career game with a season-high 15 kills, 18 digs, three aces and two blocks. 

Senior Hannah Neff held down the defense with a team-high 21 digs. Sophomore Ava Reeves came up with 12 kills while sophomore Karley Black tacked on ten. 

Sophomore Emily Campbell had nine kills and five blocks. Senior Brantley Chipley and sophomore Ellie Nieporte had four blocks each. Chipley added eight kills and Nieporte had a double-double of 49 assists and 10 digs.

The Trojans are home this Friday, Nov. 8th at 7 p.m. to take on Lincoln Memorial on Senior Night. The Railsplitters sit just behind the Trojans in the SAC standings with a 9-6 SAC record and 15-7 overall record.