Mercer University
UAB
Volleyball Splits Matches with UAB, Jacksonville State
8/30/2013 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Mercer volleyball team split two matches on Friday, falling to Alabama-Birmingham 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-18) before rebounding to defeat Jacksonville State 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 18-25, 28-26) as part of the UAB/Samford Invitational at Bartow Arena.
Mercer (1-1) got a 47-assist effort from junior setter Carly Iannarino in the second match of the day, aiding a Bears offensive attack that saw four players reach double figure kill totals. Four Bears also registered 10 or more digs in the win as Mercer sent Jacksonville State to 0-2 on the year.
Sophomore outside hitter Molly Locke paced the team with 16 kills and 19 digs against the Gamecocks, marking her 15th career double-double performance. Iannarino (47 assists, 15 digs) and freshman Ellie James (11 kills, 13 digs) also had double-double efforts to help the Bears pull even on the day.
Mercer got off to a hot start, never trailing in the first set while converting on 16 of 34 attacks for a .414 hitting percentage. From then on, the match was a see-saw battle featuring 37 tie scores and 14 lead changes.
In the fourth set, Mercer trailed 24-21 before rallying with three-straight points to pull even. The Bears would eventually pull away from a 26-26 tie with a kill by freshman Avery Hoven and a match-winning block-assist by Carlton and Hoven.
Earlier on Friday, Iannarino had 18 assists and senior libero Emily Rochefort tallied a match-high 24 digs in a three-set lost to UAB. The Blazers registered a .288 hitting percentage in the win while Mercer was limited to a .048 attacking efficiency.
Mercer returns to action in the UAB/Samford Invitational with matches against Samford and Georgia State on Saturday.
