Mercer University
Fla. Gulf Coast
FGCU Sneaks Past Mercer Volleyball, 3-2
10/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mercer senior setter Monica Sanchez topped the 50 assist mark for the fourth time this season as the volleyball team fell to Florida Gulf Coast 3-2 (24-26, 28-26, 25-20, 18-25, 15-8) on Friday evening at Alico Arena.
The Bears second-straight loss dropped the team to 8-13 (4-7 A-Sun) while FGCU remained unbeaten in league play and moved to 15-7 (10-0 A-Sun).
Mercer has now lost to FGCU in five sets twice this season and remains the only A-Sun squad to push the Eagles to the fifth set. Friday night's contest was even tighter than the teams' previous meeting, featuring 30 tie scores and 14 lead changes.
After splitting the first four sets, both teams were deadlocked in a 4-4 tie in the fifth set before the Eagles ripped off four-straight points. Despite a pair of timeouts by Mercer head coach Damian Elder, the Bears couldn't close the gap and ultimately fell 15-8.
Sanchez' 51 helpers came in conjunction with six digs and four assists. Junior Emily Rochefort added three assists and 21 digs in losing effort.
Senior Jamie Duffy and freshman Molly Locke each had double-double efforts in the loss. Locke came up two kills short of her season high with 21 kills and 16 digs. Duffy's double-dip came by virtue of 13 kills and 18 digs.
Mercer returns to action at Stetson on Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.
