Mercer University
Jacksonville St.
Volleyball Defeated by Jacksonville State, 3-1
9/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
OXFORD, Miss. – Mercer junior Molly Locke and freshman Claire Walizcek both registered double-double performances on Saturday as the volleyball team fell to Jacksonville State, 3-1 (24-26, 25-18, 26-24, 28-26).
Mercer's loss sent the team to 3-6 on the season and concluded the Bears' showing at the Magnolia Invitational hosted by Ole Miss. Jacksonville State improved to 4-6 overall.
Locke collected a match-high 18 kills and 10 digs while Walizcek tallied 23 assists and 16 digs in the losing effort. Locke's 18 kills led three Mercer players with double-figure kill totals, as senior Caroline Carlton and junior Monica Johnson were credited with 11 and 10, respectively.
The back-and-forth affair featured 26 tie scores and 11 lead changes, but Jacksonville State was able to rebound from a first set loss to capture its second win over Mercer this season.
Locke earned five of her kills in the first set to help the Bears take the early advantage by virtue of a 26-24 victory. In the frame, the teams were tied at 24-24 before a kill for Mercer's Jordan Gollon and a JSU attacking error concluded play.
In the second set, the Gamecocks rattled off six-straight scores to break away from a slim 13-11 advantage and ultimately tie the match at 1-1. In the third set, the teams battled to another 24-24 tie before a Mercer service error and a JSU kill ended the set.
Facing elimination in the fourth set, Mercer battled back from a 15-10 deficit to tie the match at 18-18. From there the teams played evenly to a 26-26 tie before the Gamecocks sealed the win with back-to-back points.
Sophomore Hannah Noon dished out 19 assists and added a dig on Saturday. Her teammate Tori Penrod tied for the match-high with 18 digs while also contributing six assists.
Mercer returns to action next week at the Lady Vol Classic hosted by Tennessee.
