Mercer University
Georgia
Mercer Falls to Georgia and Kennesaw State at Georgia Challenge
9/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. – The Mercer University volleyball team lost a pair of matches against Georgia and Kennesaw State on the final day of the Georgia Challenge in Athens, Ga.
HOW IT HAPPENED (VS GEORGIA)
The Bears opened the day against the Bulldogs, the hosts of the Georgia Challenge, and fell behind quickly, dropping the opening set 25-17. After trailing for much of the second stanza, Mercer put together an 11-3 run to earn a set point at 24-23. However, Georgia reeled off the next three points to take the set 26-24. The Bulldogs closed out the match with a 25-16 victory in the third to earn a 3-0 match win.
HOW IT HAPPENED (VS KENNESAW STATE)
Kennesaw State controlled the match from the beginning, winning the first set 25-14. The Owls then captured the second by a score of 25-16 before finishing the match with another 25-16 win in the third to claim a 3-0 victory.
PLAYER OF THE DAY
The day's best performance from a Bear was turned in by sophomore Morgan MacGilvary in the first match against Georgia. The sophomore recorded 11 kills, the only player on Mercer or Georgia to reach double figures, and added eight digs and two solo blocks to cap off her performance.
STAT OF THE DAY
With 12 kills on the day MacGilvary now has 56 on the season through just six matches. The 56 kills more than doubles her entire output from the 2014 season in which the outside hitter totaled 27 kills in her debut season.
NOTABLES
- MacGilvary's 11 kills against Georgia led the team, marking the fourth time she has recorded the most kills for Mercer this season.
- MacGilvary has exceeded double digit kills in three of six matches in 2015.
- Freshman Heather Swann notched six kills against Georgia and added five versus Kennesaw State. The Mertztown, Pa., native has now recorded five or more kills in each of the last five matches.
- Bailey Noon recorded three aces against Georgia, marking the first time in her career she has posted back-to-back matches of three aces or more.
- Freshman Danielle Faust tallied the first ace of her Mercer career, while adding a career-best three kills. Faust also added two digs and a block.
- With the losses, Mercer falls to 1-7 in the all-time series against Georgia and 6-7 in the head-to-head matchup against Kennesaw State.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer falls to 1-5 through two weeks of play with the losses while Georgia improved to 4-1 and Kennesaw State remains unbeaten at 5-0.
UP NEXT
The Bears head south next weekend for a pair of matches in DeLand, Fla. Mercer starts the weekend with a match at Stetson on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. ET and then wraps up its stay in the Sunshine State on Saturday, Sept. 12 at noon with a match against Florida International.
STAY SOCIAL
For all the latest information and up-to-the-minute updates on Mercer volleyball, please follow Mercer volleyball on Twitter at @MercerBearsVB.
