Mercer University
Furman
Mercer Suffers First Home Defeat of Season Against Furman
10/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MACON, Ga. – In its second match in as many days, Mercer battled Furman for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon. The Bears were unable to secure the victory and fell to the Paladins by a final of 3-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saturday's match against Furman followed the script from the Bears' win over Samford the evening before through the first two sets. The Paladins took the opening set 25-22 despite a late Mercer rally. The Bears then refocused in the second stanza. After being tied at 7-7 early, the Orange and Black went on a 13-2 run to take control and went on to win the set 25-15 to level the match at a set apiece.
After the 10-minute break Furman managed to do just enough in the 3rd set by a score of 25-22 to take a 2-1 advantage. The fourth set was tight throughout but the Paladins were able to escape with another 25-22 victory to leave Macon with a 3-1 win.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Sophomore Morgan MacGilvary was excellent in multiple facets of the match for the Bears. The outside hitter led the Orange and Black with 12 kills. Even more impressively was MacGilvary's service game, as the Plano, Texas, native totaled a career-high six aces, which are the most in a single match by any SoCon player this season. The sophomore also matched her career high in blocks with four against Furman.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Bears service game continues to be one of Mercer's strong suits this season, as Mercer posted double-digit aces for the second straight match. The Bears received aces from four different players with MacGilvary leading the way with six. Hannah Noon and Jordan Gollon each added two aces and Penrod also served up an ace against the Paladins.
NOTABLES
- With the loss, the Bear's seven match home winning streak, the longest in over a decade to start a season, comes to an end.
- Furman snapped Mercer's season-long four match win streak.
- Mercer is now 3-13 in the all-time series against Furman.
- With 11 aces, the Bears become the first team in the SoCon in 2015 to record 10 or more aces in four matches.
- Penrod led the team in digs with 22 and has recorded double digit digs in all 18 matches she has played this season. Saturday marks the seventh time this season Penrod has had 20 or more digs in a match.
- Setters Hannah Noon and Claire Waliczek each reached double figures in assists. Waliczek led the team with 21 and Noon added 14.
- MacGilvary has now led or tied for the team lead in kills in 16 of 21 matches.
- MacGilvary has recorded at least one ace in six consecutive matches and has totaled 14 over the last three contests.
- With a team-high six blocks Alsten has now had multiple blocks in 16 consecutive matches and 19-of-21 matches on the season.
- Heather Swann was second on the team in digs with 10 and has tallied double figure digs in five matches this season and four of the past five contests.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer's loss drops its record to 9-12 on the season and 4-5 in league action. The Paladins improve to 12-6 on the year and 6-2 in Southern Conference play.
UP NEXT
The Bears do not have a midweek match next week and will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 24, as Mercer travels to Spartanburg, S.C., to face Wofford for the second time this season. The match is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
STAY SOCIAL
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