Mercer University
15-12, 7-8SoCon
Western Carolina
10-18, 5-10SoCon
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Mercer Defeats WCU at Home for Third Straight Win
11/11/2016 4:54:00 PM | Volleyball
MACON, Ga. – Mercer juniors Morgan MacGilvary and Emily Krogman combined for 34 kills to lead the Bears to a 3-1 (25-20, 28-26, 17-25, 25-16) victory over Western Carolina at Hawkins Arena on Friday afternoon.
The Southern Conference win was the third straight for Mercer, which will enter the final match of regular season play Saturday with a 15-12 overall mark and 7-8 record in conference play. Western Carolina fell to 10-18 (5-10) and has lost two straight.
A scorching start by the Bears helped open up a two-set advantage that proved insurmountable for the visiting Catamounts. After Western Carolina made things interesting with a 25-17 win in the third set, Mercer put the match to rest by dominating the fourth frame.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 (25-20) | Emily Krogman came out firing with seven kills on 12 attacks (.417 hitting percentage) to pace a red-hot Mercer squad that hit .375 collectively in the opening set. Claire Waliczek was active with six assists and five digs in the frame as well. Mercer took an 18-13 lead on a four-point run that proved to be enough to pull away. Tori Penrod notched an ace in the run while Paige Alsten added two kills off of sets from Hannah Noon.
Set 2 (28-26) | With a 20-15 lead, Western Carolina looked as if it was on its way to a match-tying set win. The Bears had other plans, winning 14 of the final 20 points to take a commanding 2-0 lead into the intermission period. Mercer's rally was keyed by a six-point stretch that included three aces from Krogman, allowing Mercer to develop a 23-21 lead. Back-to-back kills by Danielle Faust and Alsten spoiled a set-point opportunity by Western Carolina at 24-23 and eventually led to Morgan MacGilvary finishing off the frame with two straight kills of her own.
Set 3 (17-25) | Mercer came out of the intermission flat-footed and paid the price as Western Carolina raced out to an 18-9 lead before the Bears could string together any kind of momentum. The Catamounts hit .361 in the set, highlighted by four kills apiece from Alyssa Zupan and Katie O'Connor.
Set 4 (25-16) | MacGilvary made sure the Bears would come away as winners Friday as she tallied eight kills in the fourth frame to compliment seven digs by Penrod and seven assists by Waliczek. Mercer forced an early timeout by the Catamounts with a 6-1 lead – highlighted by aces from MacGilvary and Bailey Noon – before eventually leading by as many as 10 points at 21-11. Four Bears recorded aces in the set.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Emily Krogman's fast start was the tone-setter for Mercer en route to its third straight win in conference play. The junior opposite hitter finished the match with 16 kills, 13 digs and four aces, marking her second straight double-double and fourth of the season. Krogman filled the box score by the intermission period, recording 10 kills, seven digs and three aces through Mercer's first two set victories.
NOTABLES
- The Bears' 15 wins this season are their most in a single season since winning 18 in 2008. Their seven SoCon wins are the most in a single season since joining the league in 2014.
- Mercer snapped a two-match skid to Western Carolina. The Bears still trail in the all-time series, 6-14.
- Hawkins Arena was defended well once again – the Bears are 7-3 on their home court this year.
- Tori Penrod finished with a match-high 21 digs, giving her 549 on the season (5.18 per set). Two other Bears had double-digit digs: Krogman (13) and Claire Waliczek (10).
- Mercer's double-double leader, Waliczek, tacked on another Friday with 23 assists and the 10 digs. She has 10 double-doubles this year.
- Six blocks by Paige Alsten gives her 99 for the season. She added 10 kills.
- Gabbi Meyering was effective off the bench with six kills on 10 attacks. She added a block assist.
- A handful of Bears reached season milestones Friday: Emily Krogman surpassed 250 kills; Claire Waliczek surpassed 500 assists; and Paige Alsten surpassed 150 kills.
RECORD UPDATE
- Mercer: 15-12 (7-8 SoCon)
- Western Carolina: 10-18 (5-10 SoCon)
UP NEXT
Mercer will host SoCon-leading ETSU (19-7, 11-3) in the regular season finale on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. Prior to the start of the match, head coach Damian Elder and company will honor three Mercer seniors – Tori Penrod, Ellie James and Hannah Noon.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Volleyball, please follow the Bears on social media at@MercerBearsVB (Twitter), and @mercervolleyball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
