Volleyball Sets Career Highs in Massachusetts but Falls to Franklin Pierce and Stonehill
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 BOXSCORE – Mercy vs. Franklin Pierce
BOXSCORE – Mercy vs. Stonehill
EASTON, MASS. (Oct. 1, 2011) – On Saturday afternoon, the Mercy College volleyball team took the court against Franklin Pierce University (6-7) and Stonehill College (13-2) in Easton, Mass. in a tri-match.
After taking a set and competing well against Bridgeport on Thursday to show that no opponent is out of their league this season, the Mavericks nearly pulled out the victory against the Ravens but succumbed to bad luck and fatigue and could not get going against the Skyhawks, dropping both matches and falling to 5-10 overall, 0-2 in the ECC. Franklin Pierce split its matches to leave with a 7-8 record while Stonehill topped both opponents in three sets, improving to 15-2.
Freshman outside hitter Brenna White (Gardnerville, Nev.) came into the day ranked 13th in Division II with 4.34 kills per set and could move up a few spots after smashing a whopping 27 in the first match and adding 10 more in the second. Along with her 11 on Tuesday and 19 Thursday night, her average now sits at 4.38 with another match to play before the rankings are updated.
Mercy 2, Franklin Pierce 3
The Mavericks traded the first two sets with the Ravens (both 25-17) in the first match, dominating the first with a .486 hitting percentage. A thrilling 30-28 third set gave Mercy a well-deserved edge, but the Mavericks lost a hard-luck fourth and had little left in the final set, falling to the Ravens 3-2 in the end.
Several Mavericks set career highs in various statistical categories in the match, including White's 27 kills (plus 14 digs for a double-double). Freshman setter Michala Askew (Ringgold, Ga.) made a career-high 31 assists and 14 digs for a double-double, as did freshman setter McKenna Ronan (Chandler, Ariz.), who had a career-high 23 assists and added 10 digs.
Sophomore outside hitter Nicolette Gebhardt (Middletown, N.Y.) continued her bounce back week with 17 kills against a mere two errors and senior right side hitter Crasheena Ward (Danbury, Conn.) added eight kills on a .533 hitting percentage. Freshman libero Ericka Kane (Glendale, Ariz.) tied for the match lead with 17 digs and freshman defensive specialist Christina Bjerstedt (Lebanon, Ohio) broke into double-digits in digs as well, with 10.
The Ravens relied heavily on their starters, five of which broke into double digits in kills, with sophomore middle hitter Katie Jackson (Centennial, Colo.) leading the way with 17. Junior outside hitter Natasha Ray (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and freshman outside hitter Catie Swiderski (Rocky Point, N.Y.) posted double-doubles, as Swiderski tied for the match lead with 17 digs. Sophomore setter Stephanie Svorinic (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and sophomore outside hitter Lauren Miller (Alexandria, Ind.) paced the match with 52 assist and seven service aces, respectively.
Mercy 0, Stonehill 3
With little time in between matches, the Mavericks came out flat against the Skyhawks are were promptly beaten 25-8 and 25-12 as they posted negative hitting percentages in the first two sets. Mercy fought back to make the third more of a competition, but it was too little too late as the Mavericks fell 25-16 in the third and final set.
White led the match with 10 kills but posted 12 errors in doing so, while Gebhardt had the same problem (one kill, six errors), leaving the Mavericks with virtually no attack early on. White found her stroke again by the third set but was the only Maverick with more than one kill.
Meanwhile, eight Skyhawks hit three or more kills, with sophomore right side hitter Kirsten Arvidson (Andover, Mass.) leading the attack with eight and freshman setter Emily Iversen (Elmhurst, Ill.) making 28 assists. Junior libero Erin Kelly (Tinley Park, Ill.) paced the match with 14 digs.
Ronan assisted on 10 kills for the Mavericks and Bjerstedt led the team with eight digs.
Head Coach Alan Clements and the Mavericks will end their weekend break from conference competition tomorrow as they host Le Moyne College at 4:00 p.m.
