Mercer University
The Citadel
Mercer Sweeps The Citadel In SoCon Home Opener
9/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer volleyball team kept its perfect home record intact with a straight-set victory over The Citadel to open up the home SoCon slate. The Bears are now 4-0 when playing in Hawkins Arena in 2015.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears wasted no time grabbing an early lead on Wednesday evening, winning the opening set in dominant fashion, 25-15. The second stanza was much more highly contested but the Black and Orange outlasted the Bulldogs by a score of 25-22. Mercer then completed the sweep in the third, taking the final frame 25-18.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Senior Monica Johnson turned in her best performance of the season against The Citadel, posting a team-high 12 kills. Johnson was extremely efficient, recording an attack percentage of .391, the highest of her 2015 season. The 12 kills are the most the Niceville, Fla., native has recorded this year and are the second most in any match during her Mercer career. Johnson was also dominant on the defensive side, notching a season-high four blocks.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Bear attack was in top form in the SoCon home opener, hammering 42 kills on 90 attempts for an attack percentage of .356, the best team effort for Mercer this season. Eight different players recorded at least one kill and six players finished the evening with hitting percentages over .300. Johnson was the only Mercer member with double-digit kills but Ellie James, Paige Alsten, Morgan MacGilvary and Emily Krogman each tallied at least five kills in the victory.
NOTABLES
- Mercer improves to 4-0 at home in 2015, matching the Bears' best home start since 2008.
- The Bears improve to 1-1 in SoCon home openers.
- The Orange and Black remain perfect against The Citadel in the all-time series, improving to 4-0 all time and 3-0 in SoCon play.
- Junior Tori Penrod recorded an ace, extending the junior's active ace streak to 16 straight matches with at least one ace.
- Penrod recorded a team-high 11 digs and has reached double-digit digs in all 11 matches she has played in 2015.
- Alsten led the Bears in blocks on Wednesday with six and has now had multiple blocks in nine consecutive matches and 12-of-14 matches on the season.
- Sophomore Gabbi Meyering posted a career-high two aces versus the Bulldogs.
- Meyering also picked up a career-high three blocks on the evening.
- Sophomore Claire Waliczek racked up a team-best 24 assists in the match, marking her sixth performance of 20 or more assists in 2015.
COACH DAMIAN ELDER'S TAKE
"We spent a lot of time trying to create a better offensive flow this week and I'm proud of the team and particularly the setters for doing just that. It's great to get our first SoCon win in front of our home crowd."
RECORDS UPDATE
The victory improves the Bears record to 5-9 on the season and 1-2 in SoCon play. The Citadel drops to 6-12 in 2015 and is now 0-2 in league action
UP NEXT
Mercer starts October with two road matches, playing at Chattanooga on Friday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. and at ETSU on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6 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.
