Mercer University
UNC Greensboro
Volleyball Falls to UNC Greensboro in Home Opener
9/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MACON, Ga. – Senior Caroline Carlton posted a team-high 10 kills, but UNC Greensboro had three players register double-figure kill totals in a come-from-behind victory over the Mercer volleyball team in Saturday's Southern Conference match at Hawkins Arena.
Mercer failed to capitalize on an opening set victory and fell to 4-10 (1-1 SoCon) while UNC Greensboro won its second-straight match and moved to 9-5 (2-0 Socon).
Carlton's 10 kills came on 32 attempts with seven errors as the senior reached double-figure kills for the fifth time this season. Sophomore Ellie James added nine kills of her own and finished just shy of a double-double with 13 digs.
Freshman Claire Walizcek and sophomore Hannah Noon combined for 42 assists while sophomore Tori Penrod was credited with a team-high 20 digs in the losing effort.
Mercer's first home match of the season opened on a positive note as the Bears built an early 10-5 lead in the first set and held on for a 25-17 win despite several comeback efforts by the Spartans. James served as the catalyst in the set, collecting five kills without a single error.
In the second set, UNC Greensboro broke away from a 4-4 tie with three-straight scores and eventually built a 16-11 lead midway through the frame. Mercer battled back to cut the deficit to a single point at 18-17, but UNC Greensboro scored consecutive points to get the buffer back to three. From there the Spartans would maintain at least a two-point advantage.
In the third set, the Spartans employed an extended 13-6 run to break open an insurmountable 18-11 lead. The final set featured 15 ties, the last of which saw the teams knotted at 24-24. The visitors were ultimately able to prevail as a kill by UNC Greensboro freshman Ashley Muench and Mercer attacking error ended the match.
Freshman Morgan MacGilvary contributed valuable minutes off the bench, collecting six kills on 13 attempts in three sets of work. MacGilvary also added two digs and a block-assist to her stat line.
The Bears continue Southern Conference play hosting Wofford on Oct. 4 at 3 p.m.
