Mercer University
Troy
Volleyball Falls Twice on Opening Day of Bear Brawl
9/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MACON, Ga. – Mercer senior Charlotte Harris piled up 40 digs in two matches, but the Bears were bested by Troy 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-11) and Tennessee State 3-2 (25-12, 22-25, 25-14, 25-21, 15-10) on the first day of the seventh annual Bear Brawl.
"We have all the tools," Mercer head coach Noelle Rooke said. "We just have to learn to respond when the pressure in on. We must to learn to minimize errors and execute when the match is on the line."
Mercer (0-6) took two of the first three sets against Tennessee State on Friday night, but could not hold on as the Tigers stormed back to take the final two sets of the evening. Harris collected 25 of her 40 digs against Tennessee State, while also chipping in three assists, a service ace and a kill.
Energized by the debut of junior transfer Madeline Dolny, Mercer raced out to 5-0 lead in the first set against Tennessee State. Dolny, who was a key factor on all five points and finished the first frame of action with seven assists.
Mercer's 25-12 first set win saw the team record a scorching .480 hitting percentage while limiting the visitors to a -.200 attacking percentage.
Mercer never trailed in the first set, but the remaining four sets featured 20 tie scores and eight lead changes. In the second set, the teams battled to a 14-14 tie before Tennessee State scored twice in a row on Mercer miscues. The Tigers held their advantage the remainder of the stanza, eventually prevailing 25-22.
In the third set, Mercer held a slim 13-12 lead before a Tiger attacking error sparked a 7-0 Bears' run. Mercer would ultimately capture the third set by a score of 25-14.
The fourth set was the most hotly contested - featuring seven tie scores and three lead changes – but the visitors scored three-straight points to move away from a 22-20 lead.
The deciding fifth featured a 9-8 Mercer lead, but Tennessee State ripped off a 4-0 run to create separation and later closed out the contest via a Shaquita Williams kill.
Mercer out-hit (.145-.046), out-blocked (12-4) and out-dug (77-72) Tennessee State in the losing effort.
Junior Jennifer Katona led the Bears offensively against Tennessee State, hammering out nine kills with only two errors. Dolny tallied four kills on eight swings for a .500 hitting percentage.
In the opening match of the day, Troy escaped from a 24-24 tie in the first set with consecutive points to take a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard.
The final two sets saw the Trojans limit Mercer to .044 and -.022 hitting percentages.
Against Troy, Katona led mercer with eight kills while seniors Anna Coursey and Amiee Frutchey each contributed seven kills. Three Mercer players (Harris, Frutchey and Emily Rochefort) notched double-digit dig totals against Troy.
Junior Monica Sanchez dished out 39 assists in the two matches while also contributing 16 digs, three kills and a pair of service aces.
Mercer returns to action on the second day of the Bear Brawl, challenging Norfolk State at 3 p.m. in the University Center.
