FLUSHING, N.Y. (Nov. 1, 2017) – Powered by a match-high 12 kills from senior Sa'Naya Johnson (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth), the Mercy College volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-22) victory over ECC foe Queens College on Wednesday night at Fitzgerald Gym.
The Mavericks (7-21, 1-11 ECC) snap a four-match losing streak and pick up their first ECC win, while the Knights (5-15, 2-9 ECC) have dropped five matches in a row.
Johnson also added three digs, while freshman Courtney Gebhardt (Bloomingburg, N.Y./Pine Bush) had 11 kills on .320 hitting. Junior Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest) dished out 32 assists with ten digs and two kills. Junior Neysha Gonzalez (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Monroe College) contributed 15 digs and freshman Adriana Lopez-Soto (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame HS) produced ten digs.
Queens was led by Anita Sengara who had a team-high 11 kills.
After taking a set against first place Molloy last night, the Mavericks looked to build off that momentum. They jumped out to a 12-11 lead in set number one following a kill by Gebhardt. Queens rebounded and took a 19-17 lead after a pair of service aces, forcing a Mercy timeout. Out of the timeout, the Mavericks went on a 6-2 run to retake the lead at 23-21, leading to a Knights timeout. Queens would cut the deficit to 24-23, but Gebhardt capped off the set with another kill to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead.
Queens built a 5-1 lead in set two and led 11-5 later in the set, looking to even up the match. Mercy battled their way back and went on an 11-4 run to take a 16-15 lead after a Gebhardt kill. The Knights did not back down and fought back, taking a 22-21 lead. However, the Mavericks concluded the set on a 4-1 run to earn a 25-23 win, building a 2-0 lead.
Mercy continued their strong play as they led 12-3 in set three. Queens had one last run in them and went on an 11-4 run to cut the Mavericks lead to 16-14. Mercy regrouped and increased the lead back to five, 24-19, before the Knights rattled off three straight points to make it 24-22. After a Mavericks timeout, a Queens attack error would give Mercy their first ECC win of the season.
Mercy hit .133 with 38 kills and 55 digs, while Queens hit .084 with 28 kills and 44 digs.
Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, November 4th when they play Edinboro and East Stroudsburg at East Stroudsburg starting at 2:30 p.m.
