Mercer University
Wofford
Mercer Downed in Heartbreaker at Wofford
10/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer and Wofford met on Saturday evening for the second time this season and Wofford managed to level the season series at 1-1 after staging a five-set comeback victory over the Bears.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a week off from competition, Mercer came out fresh and ready to go at Wofford, taking the opening set 25-19. The Bears then doubled their lead in the second, narrowly edging the Terriers 26-24 to move within one set of victory.
However, the match changed after the 10-minute intermission between the second and third sets, as Wofford managed to build momentum. The hosts took the third stanza 25-21 and then followed by rolling through the fourth frame 25-18 to tie the match at two sets apiece and force a decisive final set. Wofford was too much for Mercer in the fifth, winning 15-11 to complete the comeback victory at 3-2.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Sophomore Morgan MacGilvary turned in a complete performance on Saturday evening, excelling in multiple facets of the game. The Plano, Texas, native led Mercer with a career-high 21 kills and added 13 digs for her fifth double-double of 2015. MacGilvary also dished out a team-best three aces and managed to block three Wofford attack attempts to put an exclamation mark on her wonderful night.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Despite the loss, the Bears posted a better hitting percentage over the five sets than Wofford, thanks in large part to Mercer's ability to dig the majority of its opponent's attack attempts. The Orange and Black's 74 digs were the third most the squad has posted this season. Four Mercer players reached double figures in digs for just the second time this season. Junior Tori Penrod led the way with 22, followed by sophomore Claire Waliczek (14), MacGilvary (13) and freshman Heather Swann (12).
NOTABLES
- With the loss, the Bears are now 8-4 against Wofford in the all-time series.
- Swann recorded the first double-double of her career with a career-high 10 kills and 12 digs.
- Claire Waliczek recorded her fifth double-double of 2015 with 26 assists and 14 digs.
- Waliczek and MacGilvary are tied for the team lead in double-doubles with five apiece.
- Sophomore Emily Krogman was second on the team in kills on Saturday with 11 and has now posted 10 or more kills in three matches this season.
- Penrod led the team in digs with 22 and has recorded double digit digs in all 19 matches she has played this season. Saturday marks the eighth time this season Penrod has had 20 or more digs in a match.
- Setters Hannah Noon and Waliczek each reached the 20-dig mark at Wofford. Waliczek led the team with 26 and Noon added 20.
- MacGilvary has now led or tied for the team lead in kills in 17 of 22 matches.
- MacGilvary has recorded at least one ace in seven consecutive matches and has totaled 17 over the last four contests.
- With a team-high seven blocks Alsten has now had multiple blocks in 17 consecutive matches and 20-of-22 matches on the season.
- Swann has now reached double figures in digs in six matches this season and five of the past six contests.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer's loss drops its record to 9-13 on the season and 4-6 in league action. The Terriers improve to 15-12 on the year and 6-4 in Southern Conference play.
UP NEXT
Mercer returns home for its final home stretch of the season, as it hosts UNC Greensboro on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m., Chattanooga on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. and East Tennessee State on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.
STAY SOCIAL
For all the latest information and up-to-the-minute updates on Mercer volleyball, please follow Mercer volleyball on Twitter at @MercerBearsVB.
