DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 1, 2018) – Powered by contributions from seniors Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest), Neysha Gonzalez (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Monroe College), Leah Petty (Philadelphia, Pa./Science Leadership Academy) and Kaitlyn Partridge (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College) on Senior Night, the Mercy College volleyball team earned a 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12) victory over Georgian Court University on Thursday night at the Victory Hall Sports Center.
In a ceremony prior to the match, seniors Runge, Gonzalez, Petty and Partridge were recognized for their contributions to the Mercy College volleyball team.
The Mavericks (13-15) have won four of their last five matches, while the Lions (20-9) see their five-match winning streak come to an end.
Runge set a new career high with 47 assists and had 11 digs for a double-double. Gonzalez had a match-high-tying 17 digs and Partridge added 12 kills. Petty added four kills and six blocks and sophomore Leilani Vazquez (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Adelphi University) netted a match-high 20 kills along with 17 digs. Freshman Loreto Nunez Casal (Pontevedra, Spain/Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) slammed home a career-high 15 kills.
Georgian Court was led by Amy Bruno who had a team-high 16 kills.
The opening set saw the Mavericks take a 12-6 lead after an ace from Nunez Casal. Mercy held a 20-15 lead in the frame after a Gonzalez ace, but the Lions would battle back and get within one, 23-22, forcing a Mercy timeout. Out of the timeout, the Mavericks would score two of the final three points, capped off by a Nunez Casal kill, which gave the set to Mercy, 25-23.
Georgian Court scored the first four points of set two, but the Mavericks regrouped and made it 15-14 after a Partridge kill. The Lions would end the set on a 10-4 run to earn a 25-18 set two win.
The guests jumped out to a 6-2 lead in set three, but Mercy clawed their way back and went on an 11-4 run to take a 13-10 lead. The Mavericks held a 19-16 lead late in the set before the Lions ended the frame on a 9-3 run to take the set, 25-22.
Mercy took a 7-3 lead in the fourth set, but the Lions answered by taking a 14-13 lead on a Bruno kill. The Mavericks bounced back and went on a 7-2 run to take the lead back at 20-16, forcing a Georgian Court timeout. The Lions responded by cutting the deficit to one, 23-22, but Mercy concluded the set with two straight points to secure the set and tie up the match.
The Mavericks took a 9-6 lead in the final set after a Vazquez kill. Mercy held a 12-8 lead after a Sarah Watson (Maple Creek, Saskatchewan/Maple Creek) kill and withstood a late Lion charge to take the set and match.
Mercy hit .221 with 60 kills and 74 digs and Georgian Court hit .226 with 66 kills and 64 digs.
Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, November 3rd when they host Daemen and Assumption at 12 & 2 p.m.
