Blue Hose Snaps Nine-Match Losing Streak
with Victory over
Anderson (S.C.)
Gill
Tallies Career-High 24 Kills
CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College volleyball team finally snapped the program’s longest losing streak since 1998 when the Blue Hose lost 10 straight. The Blue Hose handed the visiting Trojans of Anderson University a 3-1 setback Tuesday night to end their nine-match losing streak.
Anderson (10-7) claimed the first game, 30-21, to take a 1-0 lead in the match. The Trojans jumped out to a 12-3 advantage to force Presbyterian to call its first timeout. However, Anderson continued to dominate the game en route to the win behind six kills from sophomore Amanda Edwards (Azle, Texas).
The next game was of the marathon variety as the Blue Hose (6-11) edged the Trojans, 40-38, for the second game victory. There were 15 tie scores along with 10 lead changes. Anderson overcame a 25-18 deficit to knot the game at 29-29 and from there both teams would go on to trade points. A service ace by sophomore Jessica Pedrick (Spartanburg, S.C.) gave the Trojans a 38-37 lead but two Anderson attacking errors sandwiching a kill by senior Danielle Gill (Kings Mountain, N.C.) helped Presbyterian to the win and a 1-1 tie in the match.
Gill notched the game-winning kills in both the third and fourth games as the Blue Hose recorded those victories with scores of 30-24 and 30-22. In game three, the teams were neck-in-neck but Presbyterian began to pull away after a 19-19 tie. The fourth game saw the Blue Hose pull out in front 7-2 before the Trojans cut that lead to 9-7. Presbyterian would continue its strong play and once again pull away for the 30-22 win.
Several Blue Hose players had career nights following the win. Gill finished with a double-double on the night with a career-best 24 kills and 11 digs as well as three service aces. Presbyterian setter Rachel Lewis (Bloomington, Ill.) dished out a career-high 70 assists to help the Blue Hose to a balanced-attack, while also adding 18 digs. Freshman Julie Hollrah (Glenwood, Md.) notched her fifth double-double of the year on 18 kills and 15 digs. Also notching double-figure kills for PC were junior Courtney VanDusen (Peoria, Ill.) with 14, sophomore Justine Lanchester (Downs, Ill.) with 13 and freshman Sarah Parker Mounce (Columbia, S.C.) with 11. Junior Jodi Palmer (Plain City, Ohio) also had a career night with 25 digs.
Edwards led the Anderson offense with a game-high 26 kills and 10 digs, while junior Leanna Willis (Saluda, S.C.) contributed 18 kills and 15 digs. Sophomore Heather Swain (Woodruff, S.C.) digged 19 kill attempts and Pedrick had 45 assists and 18 digs.
Presbyterian hopes to keep the momentum going on Friday, Sept. 22 when the Blue Hose host South Atlantic Conference opponent, Carson-Newman College, at 7 p.m. Anderson remains on the road for its next match, traveling to Barton College on Saturday for a Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference match-up at 2 p.m.