BLOOMFIELD, N.J. (Oct. 14, 2017) – Powered by a team-high 22 kills on the day from junior Kaitlyn Partridge (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College), the Mercy College volleyball team earned 3-0 victories over Georgian Court University (25-22, 25-19, 25-10) and Bloomfield College (25-16, 25-18, 25-22) on Saturday afternoon at Bloomfield College.
The Mavericks (5-17) snap a ten match losing streak with the wins and surpass their win total from all of last year. The Lions (7-14) defeated the Bears (5-15) in the other match of the day.
Mercy 3, Georgian Court 0
The opening set of the match saw the Lions jump out to a 10-9 lead after an Amy Bruno kill. The teams traded points back-and-forth with Georgian Court holding a 16-14 lead later in the set. The Mavericks responded with four straight points to take an 18-16 lead after a Sa'Naya Johnson (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) kill, forcing a Lions timeout. Out of the timeout, Georgian Court went on a 5-1 run to take a 21-19 lead, leading to a Mercy timeout. The Mavericks battled out of the timeout and rattled off four straight points to retake the lead at 23-21 after a pair of kills from freshman Courtney Gebhardt (Bloomingburg, N.Y./Pine Bush) and a kill apiece from Johnson and Partridge. The Lions trailed 24-22 before Partridge ended the set with a kill to give the Mavericks a 25-22 set one win.
The second set saw the teams go back and forth with the score being tied at 9-9 earlier on. Mercy then ensued with a 7-3 run to build a 16-12 lead. The Lions cut the deficit to two, 21-19, late in the set, but the Mavericks closed the set on a 4-0 run to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
The final set saw Georgian Court score first, but that was their last lead of the match as the Mavericks ensued with a 16-3 run to take a 16-4 lead. Mercy did not look back in cruising to the set and match victory.
Gebhardt finished with 12 kills, while junior Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest) added 22 assists and five digs. Partridge concluded the match with nine kills.
Georgian Court was led by Aubrey Binkley who had nine kills.
Mercy hit .431 with 33 kills and 19 digs, while Georgian Court hit .064 with 28 kills and 12 digs.
Mercy 3, Bloomfield 0
The opening set of the second match of the day saw the hosts jump out to an 11-9 lead after three straight aces. Mercy quickly regained their momentum by going on a 9-3 run to take an 18-14 lead, forcing a Bears timeout. Out of the timeout, the Mavericks closed the set on a 7-2 run to take the first set, 25-16.
Bloomfield once again had the early lead in set two at 11-10. However, that did not last long as Mercy fought back and went on a 9-4 run to take a 19-15 lead after a Danielle Sarasky (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial) kill. The Mavericks would lead the rest of the way in the set, earning a 25-18 win to take another 2-0 lead.
The final set of the day saw the Bears hold an 18-16 lead and looked to prolong the match. Mercy had other plans as they followed with four straight points to take a 20-18 lead. Bloomfield followed with a point to make it 20-19, but that would be the closest they got as the Mavericks held on for the straight-set victory.
Partridge finished with 13 kills, while Runge contributed 23 assists and five digs. Gebhardt contributed six kills and junior Neysha Gonzalez (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Monroe College) netted seven digs.
Bloomfield was led by Danielle Quintanar who had 14 kills.
Mercy hit .146 with 30 kills and 27 digs, while Bloomfield hit -.049 with 20 kills and 32 digs.
Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks look to make it three wins in a row when they host Dominican on Thursday, October 19th at Nyack College at 7 p.m.
