BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Sept. 12, 2018) – Despite a team-high eight kills from freshman Loreto Nunez Casal (Pontevedra, Spain/Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) and a team-high 24 assists from senior Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest), the Mercy College volleyball team opened up ECC play with a 3-0 (20-25, 20-25, 21-25) setback to University of Bridgeport on Wednesday night.
The Mavericks (2-8, 0-1 ECC) have dropped seven matches in a row, while the Purple Knights (6-3, 1-0 ECC) have won four matches in a row.
Nunez Casal reached a career high in kills and Runge added six digs. Senior Neysha Gonzalez (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Monroe College) recorded a team-high nine digs and senior Kaitlyn Partridge (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College) had seven kills.
Bridgeport was led by Galia Nankin who had a match-high nine kills.
The opening set of the night saw Bridgeport jump out to an 11-2 lead. The Mavericks responded with a 6-1 run to cut the deficit to 12-8, but the Purple Knights came back on a 7-1 run to build a 19-9 lead. Mercy would get within four, 24-20, but that would be as close as they could get as a service error gave Bridgeport set one, 25-20.
Mercy took a 6-4 lead in set two following a Partridge kill. The Purple Knights quickly recovered and ensued with a 12-3 run to take a 16-9 lead. The Mavericks continued to battle and followed with four straight points to make it 16-13. The teams traded points to bring the score to 17-14 before Bridgeport went on a 6-3 spurt to build a six-point advantage, 23-17, and did not look back in securing the second set, 25-20.
Bridgeport got off to a 10-7 lead in set three. However, the Mavericks would rally back and take a 15-14 lead after a Partridge kill. The Purple Knights tallied three straight points to build a 17-15 lead, but Mercy would not quit and rebounded to tie the set up at 19-19. Four straight points for Bridgeport gave them a 23-19 lead and the Mavericks would get within three points twice before eventually falling, 25-21.
Mercy hit .207 with 30 kills and 28 digs and Bridgeport hit .395 with 44 kills and 42 digs.
Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, September 14th when they play at Pace at 7 p.m.
