Mercer University
Samford
Mercer Comeback Comes Up Short at Samford
9/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Mercer University volleyball squad opened up its 2015 SoCon schedule on Friday evening at Samford in Birmingham, Ala. The Bears battled the Bulldogs but fell in a four-set decision, 3-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer fought off two set points in the opening set at 24-22 and managed to level the score at 24-24. However, Samford quickly regrouped and won the next two points to take the first set 26-24. The Bulldogs continued their momentum into the second and claimed the stanza 25-18.
Mercer faced a match point in the third with the score 24-23 but managed to rally and win the next three points to force a fourth set and draw within one at 2-1. The Bears gave the hosts all they could handle in the fourth frame, but the Bulldogs outlasted Mercer and held on to win 27-25 to take the match by a final of 3-1.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Ellie James turned in her best performance of the season at Samford. The junior notched her first double-double of the season and ninth of her career with 11 kills and 12 digs. The 11 digs were tied for the team-high on the night. James also helped the Bears in other areas, adding two aces and a block to complete her evening.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Freshman Paige Alsten continues to be a force at the net to the opposition's attack this season, as she posted a match-high six blocks on Friday evening. The performance marks the fourth time Alsten has posted six or more blocks in a match. The freshman entered the night ranked second in the SoCon in blocks.
NOTABLES
- The loss snaps Mercer's season-long three match win streak.
- Penrod dished out three aces on the night, marking the junior's 14th straight match with at least one ace.
- With 12 digs, James has now posted 10 or more digs in three consecutive matches.
- Morgan MacGilvary posted 11 kills against the Bulldogs and has reached double figures in kills in four consecutive matches.
- MacGilvary has now led or tied for the team lead in kills in nine of 12 matches this season.
- Penrod recorded a team-high 14 digs and has reached double-digit digs in all nine matches she has played in 2015.
- Alsten leads the team in blocks with 46 on the season.
COACH DAMIAN ELDER'S TAKE
"That was our best played match of the year, it just so happened that Samford is one of the best teams we play all year so I'm satisfied with the performance. The energy on both sides was great and it was nice to have our starting lineup all healthy and on the court for only the second time this season."
RECORDS UPDATE
The loss ends Mercer's three-match winning streak and drops its record to 4-8 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. Samford improves to 6-5 in 2015 and starts league action with a 1-0 record.
UP NEXT
The Bears travel east to Greenville, S.C. on Saturday, Sept. 26 for another SoCon road match, as Mercer takes on Furman. The match is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. EST.
STAY SOCIAL
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