Mercer University
Chattanooga
Mercer Opens SoCon Tournament with Chattanooga
11/18/2016 1:56:00 PM | Volleyball
Sixth-seeded Bears seek first postseason win since 1991
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mercer will take plenty of motivation into this weekend's Southern Conference Tournament where it will battle third-seeded Chattanooga in the quarterfinal round at 8:30 p.m. (ET) Saturday at Pete Hanna Center. The match will air live on the SoCon Digital Network.
The sixth-seeded Bears (15-13, 7-9 SoCon) are hungry for a postseason victory; their last came in 1991 when they defeated Centenary College of Louisiana in the play-in round of the Atlantic Sun Tournament. Mercer is 0-2 in SoCon Tournament play since joining the league in 2014, having lost to UNCG, 3-2, and Furman, 3-1, in the quarterfinals both years.
All-SoCon Second Team selection Morgan MacGilvary and senior libero Tori Penrod will lead the Orange and Black against Chattanooga (17-12, 10-6), a team that defeated them twice during regular season play.
The winner of Saturday's quarterfinal showdown will advance to the semifinals and face the winner of No. 2 UNCG and No. 7 Western Carolina at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.
SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
Date: Saturday, Nov. 19 | 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT
Teams: No. 6 Mercer (15-13, 7-9 SoCon) vs. No. 3 Chattanooga (17-12, 10-6 SoCon)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
TV: SoCon Digital Network
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/livestats
Twitter Updates: @MercerBearsVB
SERIES HISTORY | REGULAR-SEASON OUTLOOK
The Mocs own a six-match lead and have won four straight in the all-time series, which Mercer trails in 9-15. Both of Chattanooga's regular-season wins this season were in straight sets as Mercer struggled to contain the opposition's offense; the Mocs hit .411 and .233 in the two matches. MacGilvary totaled 20 kills and Penrod notched 36 digs in the two matches, but the Bears failed to overcome early deficits in both. Mercer, the SoCon's best team in the service game, recorded only four total aces in the two losses.
NOTABLES
- The 8:30 p.m. (ET) start time Saturday will mark the latest match Mercer has played this season.
- Mercer's 15 wins are the most in a single season since winning 18 in 2008. This is the first winning season for the Bears since 2008 as well.
- As a team Mercer leads the conference in aces per set (1.45), ranks third in blocks per set (2.13) and ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.209).
- Despite being left off the All-SoCon First and Second Teams, Tori Penrod is among the nation's best liberos. The senior's 569 digs lead the conference and rank 18th nationally while her 5.22 digs per set average is the 17th-best nationally.
- Paige Alsten tops all SoCon players in hitting percentage (.337) and blocks per set (1.28). She's one of six conference players with at least 100 blocks.
- Morgan MacGilvary is sixth among SoCon players in both total kills (357) and kills per set (3.28).
- Mercer is one of two conference teams to have two players with more than 500 assists, joining ETSU. Hannah Noon has a team-best 544 assists while Claire Waliczek owns 517.
SCOUTING THE MOCS
Chattanooga enters the SoCon Tournament as the No. 3 seed and is 4-2 since last playing Mercer on Oct. 22. The team ranks among the top-five of conference teams in hitting percentage (.196), opponent hitting percentage (.186), assists per set (11.4) and service aces per set (1.34). Chattanooga hit above its average in both matches against Mercer and the Bears will look to quell that trend Saturday.
Kristy Wieser, a two-time All-SoCon First Team selection, leads the Mocs with 286 kills at a 2.72 kills per set average and finished the regular season with a .295 hitting percentage. She notched 15 and 16 kills, respectively, in two matches against Mercer. SoCon All-Freshman selection Dani Szczepanski is Chattanooga's top threat in the serving game with 29 aces and lead the team with 81 total blocks.
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.
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