Mercer University
Tulane University
Mercer Records a Win and a Loss in Final Day of Gamecock Challenge
3/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Mercer beach volleyball team recorded both a win and a loss in day two of the Gamecock Challenge on Sunday, defeating Coastal Carolina 4-1 and falling to No. 16 Tulane by the slimmest of margins with a score of 3-2. The Bears finished the weekend with an even 2-2 record.
MATCH ONE VS. NO. 16 TULANE
The Bears came up just short in knocking off No. 16 Tulane on Sunday in the first match of the day. Tulane pulled out the win by a score of 3-2. Mercer and the Green Wave were tied at 2-2 with one match still playing. The Orange and Black No. 1 pair of Emma and Sophie Peel split the first two sets before falling by a score of 15-9 in the third set, giving Tulane the victory.
The Peel sisters' match was not the only one that went the distance, as the No. 4 team of Claire Waliczek and Danielle Faust won by a score of 21-19, 13-21, 15-8. The Bears' No. 5 pairing of Madison Kerr and Morgan MacGilvary was not as fortunate falling in three sets by a final of 21-11, 14-21, 15-12.
The Mercer tandem of Tori Penrod and Emily Krogman won their match in straight sets, claiming a 21-18, 21-15 win to give the Bears their second win of the match.
Mercer is now 1-3 against Tulane in the all-time series.
FINAL SCORES
1. Jackie Wegner/Tea Juric (TUL) def. Sophie Peel/Emma Peel (MER) 20-22, 24-22, 15-9
2. Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) def. Anna Chin/Hannah Holmes (TUL) 21-18, 21-15
3. Madeline Mertz/Lan Nguyen (TUL) def. Gretja Otten/Jessica Johnson (MER) 21-19, 21-17
4. Briana Correa/Claudia Lemieux (TUL) def. Claire Waliczek/Danielle Faust (MER) 21-19, 13-21, 15-8
5. Madison Kerr/Morgan MacGilvary (MER) def. Sarah Strasner/Miah Diirell (TUL) 21-11, 14-21, 15-12
MATCH TWO VS. COASTAL CAROLINA
For the second time in as many days, Mercer bounced back from a defeat in its first match with a win in the second of the day. The Bears handily won over Coastal Carolina by a score of 4-1, with all four victories coming in straight sets.
Penrod and Krogman capped off their stay in Columbia, S.C., with a win at the No. 2 position by a score of 21-13, 21-17, finishing with a perfect 4-0 record at the Gamecock Invitational. The team is off to a 6-1 start on the season.
The most impressive victory of the day came from the pairing of Otten and Faust at the No. 3 spot. The two breezed through their match winning the first set 21-9 and the second 21-6. The other two Mercer wins came from the No. 4 team of Waliczek and Faust by a score of 21-11, 21-14 and the No. 5 pairing of Kerr and MacGilvary by a final of 21-15, 21-13.
The Bears are now 4-3 on the season.
FINAL SCORES
1. Natasa Savovic/Alise Petersone (CCU) def. Sophie Peel/Emma Peel (MER) 15-21, 21-14, 15-12
2. Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) def. Tahleia Bishop/Aleksandra Djuric (CCU) 21-13, 21-17
3. Gretja Otten/Jessica Johnson (MER) def. Annayka Legros/Carla Cahill (CCU) 21-9, 21-6
4. Claire Waliczek/Danielle Faust (MER) def. Sara Boothe/Mika Mierzwa (CCU) 21-11, 21-14
5. Madison Kerr/Morgan MacGilvary (MER) def. Shelby Ladewig/Iva Mandic (CCU) 21-15, 21-13
UP NEXT
Mercer travels to the College of Charleston Beach Invitational on Friday, March 18. The Bears will face the hosts on 3 p.m. and then have contests against Pepperdine at 8 a.m. and Lincoln Memorial at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 19.
STAY SOCIAL
For all the latest information and up-to-the-minute updates on Mercer beach volleyball, please follow the team on Twitter at @MercerBearsVB.
