Mercer University
UNC Greensboro
Mercer Falls in Three Sets at UNCG
11/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Mercer took on UNCG in its first of three road matches to close out the regular season on Friday evening. The Spartans were too much for the Bears, winning by a final score of 3-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first meeting between the two sides played in Macon earlier this season each set was decided by two points, the narrowest of margins. That trend continued on Friday. The Spartans took the first set 25-23 to jump out to a 1-0 lead. Mercer and UNCG battled throughout the second but the hosts outlasted the Bears in a marathon set by a score of 30-28 to increase the lead to 2-0.
The third set looked like it was shaping up to also come down to the wire after the score was tied at 19-19 late. However, UNCG reeled off the last six points to win the set 25-19 and take the match 3-0.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Junior libero Tori Penrod was all over the floor from a defensive standpoint for the Orange and Black. The Jupiter, Fla., native accrued 20 digs in three sets, averaging 6.67 digs per set on the evening. Penrod also excelled from the service line, handing out a team-best three aces against the Spartans.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Mercer's defense was solid all evening, holding the Spartans to an attacking percentage of just .145, nearly .70 below their season average. The Bears did not allow UNCG to post a hitting percentage over .200 in any of the three sets, thanks to Penrod's ability to register digs and Alsten and the rest of the Mercer block to make the evening difficult at the net.
NOTABLES
- With the loss, the Bears are now 1-5 against UNCG in the all-time series.
- Tori Penrod finished the day with 20 digs and has now recorded double digit digs in all 23 matches she has played this season. Penrod has now posted 20 or more digs in 10 matches in 2015.
- Heather Swann led the team in kills for the first time this season with a career-high 11 against the Spartans.
- Setters Hannah Noon and Waliczek each recorded double digit assists. Waliczek led the team with 15 assists and Noon added 13 of her own.
- With four blocks Alsten has now had multiple blocks in 21 consecutive matches and 24-of-26 matches on the season.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer's loss drops its record to 9-17 on the season and 4-10 in league action. The Spartans improve to 20-8 on the year and 10-3 in Southern Conference play.
UP NEXT
Mercer stays in the state of North Carolina for its second match in as many days, as the Bears head to Cullowhee to play Western Carolina. The match is set to begin at noon on Saturday.
STAY SOCIAL
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