White, Ronan Post Double-Doubles as Volleyball Takes ECC Powerhouse Dowling to Five Sets
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 12, 2013) – Junior Brenna White (Gardnerville, Nev. / Douglas) posted her 13th double-double of the season and junior McKenna Ronan (Chandler, Ariz. / Seton Catholic Prep) recorded her first of the year as the Mercy College volleyball team took perennial powerhouse Dowling College to five sets in a thrilling East Coast Conference matchup on Tuesday.
Mercy's record now stands at 11-19 overall and 2-13 in ECC play while Dowling improves to 19-11 (10-5).
White immediately gave Mercy an early 4-2 lead on three straight kills and the Mavericks stretched it out to 12-5 before the Golden Lions could find their footing. After trading a few points, though, Mercy finished things off by scoring eight of the final 10 to take the first set, 25-13.
The Mavericks did not let up as the second set got underway, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and extending the margin to six at 10-4. Dowling began to claw back, however, and finally tied things up at 17-17 before rattling off an 8-2 run to win the set, 25-20, and tie the match.
This time the Golden Lions rode the momentum into the next set, scoring the first five points and holding a comfortable margin through to a 25-15 victory. A mid-set 9-2 run put Mercy in the driver's seat for Set Four and, despite a Dowling rally that saw the Golden Lions serving with set point at 24-23, the Mavericks held on for the 26-24 victory to force a fifth set.
Mercy gained the early edge with a 4-1 lead but Dowling posted a 5-1 run to lead by one. The Mavericks scored the next three points to lead 8-6 at the court change, but the Golden Lions would go on to win, 15-12, and escape with the match.
White led the Mavericks with 19 kills and added 12 digs to complete the double-double while Ronan made 43 assists and recorded 15 digs for her double-double. Senior Mallorie Hopkins (Commerce, Calif. / Pasadena City College) led the team with her 14th 20-dig effort of the season as senior Kirstie Zubiate (Salinas, Calif. / Hartnell College) also reached double digits with 10 digs. Sophomore Hana Brucaj (Shrub Oak, N.Y. / Lakeland) was dominant at the net, recording a career-high six blocks (three solo).
Head Coach Kelly Wengerter and the Mavericks will close out their season as hosts to the conference-leading University of Bridgeport (18-2, 14-1) on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
