Mercer University
Western Carolina
Mercer Improves to 5-0 at Home with Win Over WCU
10/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer volleyball team continued its dominance at Hawkins Arena on Friday evening, posting a 3-1 victory over Western Carolina in a Southern Conference matchup.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears and Catamounts played a very even first frame but Mercer did just enough to pull out the win in the first by a score of 25-23. Western Carolina stormed back in the second and evened the match at one set apiece by winning the stanza 25-16.
The Orange and Black came out refocused after the 10-minute intermission and claimed the third set by a mark of 25-19 to pull within one frame of taking the victory. Mercer used the momentum from the third and carried it to the fourth set, as the Bears won rather comfortably 25-17 to cement the 3-1 match victory.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Sophomore Morgan MacGilvary posted a career-best 19 kills in the four-set triumph, marking the most of any Mercer player this season. The outside hitter accrued 43 attack attempts and finished the evening with a hitting percentage of .349. MacGilvary also added seven digs, two aces, two blocks and an assist to complete her performance.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Sophomore Emily Krogman was ridiculously efficient in the attack on Friday, posting a hitting percentage of .526. The San Diego, Calif., native put down 11 kills on 19 attempts with just one error. The 11 kills are the most from Krogman this season and her hitting percentage is her best in 2015 in matches she recorded at least five kills.
COACH DAMIAN ELDER'S TAKE
"It was great to see our team rally around a different lineup than we anticipated tonight. Our attacking was on point and it was great to see us generate that amount of kills. We're happy with another win in front of our home crowd."
NOTABLES
- Mercer's 5-0 start at home is the Bears' best in over 10 seasons.
- The Orange and Black improve to 5-12 in the all-time series with the Catamounts and have won each of the last two matches.
- Sophomore setter Claire Waliczek had a career night, totaling a personal-best 49 assists, the most of any Mercer player this season.
- Morgan MacGilvary paced the Bears with 19 kills and has now led Mercer in the category in 12 of 17 matches.
- Friday marks the eighth match of 2015 in which MacGilvary has recorded double figures in kills.
- Junior Tori Penrod recorded a team-high 15 digs and has reached double-digit digs in all 14 matches she has played in 2015.
- Monica Johnson posted a season-high 13 kills in the victory to go along with a personal best hitting percentage of .417.
- Heather Swann reached double figures in digs for the second time this season with 12.
- With a team-high three blocks Alsten has now had multiple blocks in 12 consecutive matches and 15-of-17 matches on the season.
- Bailey Noon tied for the team lead in aces with two. Noon has now posted multiple aces in three matches this season.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer's record rises to 6-11 on the season and 2-4 in SoCon play. The Catamounts drop to 7-14 in 2015 and 1-4 in league action.
UP NEXT
Mercer has a quick turnaround, as the Bears are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 10 for a matinée against SoCon foe Wofford. The match will be played in Hawkins Arena and is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
STAY SOCIAL
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