Mercer University
Nicholls State
Mercer Earns Split in Final Day of Southern Miss Invite
8/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Mercer University volleyball team split two matches against Nicholls State (3-2 loss) and Southern (3-0 win) in the second and final day of the Southern Miss Invite. Junior libero Tori Penrod took home All-Tourney honors for her performance over the three matches.
HOW IT HAPPENED (VS NICHOLLS STATE)
The first match of the day against the Colonels was a see-saw affair. Mercer grinded out an opening set victory by a score of 28-26. Nicholls St. then responded by taking the second (25-23) and third (25-21) sets to take a 2-1 lead. The Bears forced a decisive fifth set by winning the fourth (25-20). Nicholls State managed to outlast Mercer by claiming victory in the fifth (15-6) to win the match 3-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED (VS SOUTHERN)
Mercer had its best performance of the season against Southern, cruising to a straight-set sweep of the Jaguars for its first victory of the season. The Bears raced out to a one set lead after taking the opener by a score of 25-14. Mercer capped off the match by winning the second 25-21 and third 25-18.
PLAYER OF THE DAY
After having the best night of her career in the season opener against Southern Miss, Morgan MacGilvary turned in an even better performance against Nicholls State. The sophomore recorded a personal best 17 kills to lead the Bears' attack. MacGilvary also earned her second straight double-double with 10 digs. To complete her performance the Plano, Texas native added two blocks, two assists and an ace.
In the second match of the day against Southern MacGilvary totaled five kills and added seven digs, an ace and an assist.
STAT OF THE DAY
The Bears put on a defensive clinic in the win over Southern. Mercer held the Jaguars to a hitting percentage of -0.022 for the match, forcing Southern into 25 attack errors while allowing just 23 kills on 93 attempts.
NOTABLES
- The 3-0 victory over Southern was Mercer's first since sweeping Savannah State on Oct. 29, 2014.
- Paige Alsten followed up Friday's seven block match with three blocks against Nicholls State and four versus Southern.
- Alsten had a remarkably efficient performance against Nicholls State, totaling 11 kills on 14 attempts with just one error for an attacking percentage of .714.
- Sophomore Claire Waliczek registered her second double-double of the season with a team-high 22 assists and 13 digs versus Nicholls State. The double-double is the seventh of her career.
- Penrod recorded a team-high 21 digs against Nicholls State, marking the 11th time Penrod has reached or exceeded the 20-dig mark in her career.
- Penrod dished out two aces against Nicholls State and one versus Southern and has now recorded at least one ace in eight consecutive matches.
- Hannah Noon recorded her first double-double of the season and third of her career against Nicholls State with 21 assists and 10 digs. Noon also notched a career-high three aces against Nicholls State.
- The five-set match against Nicholls St. was Mercer's second in a row after falling to Southern Miss in the opener. The back-to-back five-setters were the first for the Bears since defeating defeating North Florida (10/5) and falling to Jacksonville (10/6) in 2012.
QUOTABLES
"After two really hard fought matches we were able to separate a little against Southern because our offense started to click. Southern played hard and it was great to see our team match their intensity plus execute the way we've wanted to all weekend.
"Overall this weekend was a great learning experience for our team and I'm proud of all of their effort." – Mercer Head Coach Damian Elder
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer recorded a win and a lost and moved to 1-2 after the first weekend of action.
UP NEXT
The Bears will take on three intrastate foes next week at the Georgia Challenge in Athens, Ga. Mercer plays Georgia Tech on September 3 at 4 p.m. ET before returning to action on Friday, Sept. 4 for a doubleheader against Georgia at 1 p.m. and Kennesaw St. at 4 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.
