GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's volleyball team continued its winning ways, grinding out a four-set victory against Anderson on Saturday (Sept. 18) afternoon. The Pioneers are off to their overall start since 2011 and league launch dating back to 2010.
The Black and Orange (8-1, 4-0 SAC) won the match by scores of 25-23, 25-16, 20-25, 25-22 over the Trojans (6-4, 1-1 SAC).
Sadie Kluner (13) and Jaelyn Grimm (10) both reached double-digit kills for Anderson, ahead of eight by Maya Learmonth. Madison Roy handed out 35 assists and was one of four Trojans to record a service ace, led by three from Meghan DeVaux. DeVaux also finished with a team-high 19 digs, while Roy completed a double-double with her 10. Grimm is credited with three block assists, followed by a pair of blocks from Roy and Neely Shugart.
Three Pioneers reached double-figures in kills: Emiah Burrowes (14), Carli Pigza (12), and Raeley Matthews (12). Burrowes hit an efficient .394, capping off an impressive week for the junior. Elise Carmichael and Catherine Clingan ran the two-setter system, collecting 26 and 24 assists, respectively. TU earned seven aces from six players across the match, headed up by a pair from Carly Sosnowski. Burrowes, Bailey Parker, Matthews, and both setters also landed an ace. Sosnowski scooped up a match-high 24 digs, aided by many diving efforts. Carmichael notched a double-double as she added 11 digs to her assist numbers. Tusculum had a strong day at the net as Peyton Gash (three assists), Parker (one solo, two assists), and Raven Chance (one solo, two assists) each garnered three total blocks.
Anderson hit .147 as a team with 45 kills and 25 errors in 136 total attempts. Tusculum averaged .238 with 54 kills, 19 errors and 147 total attacks. The Pioneers led the match in assists (52-42), aces (7-6), and total blocks (7-5), while the Trojans had the slight advantage in digs (61-60).
Set one kicked off a thrilling afternoon as it was the closest score of the contest. Carmichael led off the match with her only ace of the day, but Anderson rebounded to hold the point advantage until 9-8. Tusculum responded with a four-score spurt to extend the margin to 17-13. The Trojans went on a run of their own to regain the lead at 23-22. TU's resilient Pioneers bounced back to force a set-point after a kill from Burrowes and clinched the frame on Gash's swing.
After winning a tight set, TU held the Trojans to a negative hitting percentage as Anderson had no answer to the Pioneers' gutsy play. The first few points alternated between the foes, but Tusculum took the lead for good at the 12-11 mark on a kill by Matthews. AU managed just five points during the remainder of the set, while Danielle Marante's squad fired off 13. TU claimed the final handful of scores, which went as follows: kill by Gash, solo block by Chance, tag-team block by Gash and Chance, and finished off by back-to-back kills from Matthews.
Anderson refused to be swept and thus took the third set. As in previous frames, the Pioneers tallied the opening point, this time on a kill by Chance. Anderson held a four-point advantage at the 12-8 mark, until Tusculum rallied for it to become just one at 16-15. The set became tied at 20-all on a Pigza kill, compelling the Trojans to call a timeout. AU proceeded to win the final five points.
TU then responded with its most efficient hitting percentage of the match, .345, to come out victorious over the visiting Trojans. Continuing the theme of winning the opening point, Matthews landed a kill on a Carmichael assist, followed by a Parker-Pigza block. Tusculum never relented the lead after coming from behind to even the score at 15-15. The final tie came at 19-all with Burrowes collecting the go-ahead kill. Anderson fought off one match-point, but could not withstand another.
Tusculum remains in the friendly confines of Pioneer Arena next week, squaring off against archrival Carson-Newman on Friday (Sept. 24) night. The grudge match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
