Mercer University
Pepperdine
Mercer Wins One of Two in Its Final Day at CofC Invite
3/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Mercer beach volleyball earned a split on Saturday, falling to No. 1 Pepperdine in the morning before bouncing back with a 5-0 victory over Lincoln Memorial. The Bears are now 6-4 on the season.
MATCH 1 VS. NO. 1 PEPPERDINE
The Bears faced their toughest opponent of the season on Saturday morning, facing the top team in the country in Pepperdine. The Wave lived up to its ranking, taking the match by a final score of 5-0.
The closest match of the morning came at the No. 3 position. Mercer's Jessica Johnson and Gretja Otten became just the second team this year to win at least one set against Pepperdine's No. 3 pairing of Skylar Caputo and Corinne Quiggle. Otten and Johnso fell by a final of 21-12, 21-23, 15-6.
The Bears were competitive in a number of the other matches but were unable to win the crucial points to win sets.
Mercer is now 0-2 against Pepperdine in the all-time series.
FINAL SCORES
1. Heidi Dyer/Taylor Racich (PEP) def. Emily Krogman/Tori Penrod (MER) 23-21, 21-15
2. Kaity Bailey/Delaney Knudsen (PEP) def. Emma Peel/Sophie Peel (MER) 21-11, 23-21
3. Skylar Caputo/Corinne Quiggle (PEP) def. Jessica Johnson/Gretja Otten (MER) 21-12, 21-23, 15-6
4. Madalyn Roh/Anika Wilson (PEP) def. Morgan MacGilvary/Madison Kerr (MER) 21-8, 21-17
5. Samantha Cash/Sarah Seiber (PEP) def. Danielle Faust/Claire Waliczek (MER) 21-11, 21-14
MATCH 2 VS. NO. LINCOLN MEMORIAL
After the defeat earlier in the day, Mercer rebounded with a comfortable 5-0 win over Lincoln Memorial in the second match of the day to finish with a 2-1 record at the CofC Invitational.
The Bears won the matches in the No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 positions in straight sets and the No. 5 team won by forfeit. The most dominant performance of the afternoon was turned in by Penrod and Krogman at No. 1. The pair gave up a combined 16 points between the two sets, winning 21-10, 21-6.
The Peel sisters also cruised to a victory at the No. 2 spot, claiming a 21-12, 21-6 victory. After a close 21-19 first set at No. 3, Johnson and Otten breezed to a 21-11 win in the second set to secure the win. Faust and Waliczek teamed up at No. 4 to win by a score of 21-13, 21-11.
Mercer is 1-0 against Lincoln Memorial, as today's meeting was the first between the two programs.
FINAL SCORES
1. Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) def. Abby Cash/Brooke Fleeman (LMU) 21-10, 21-6
2. Emma Peel/Sophie Peel (MER) def. Jamie Jehne/Bristol Snider (LMU) 21-12, 21-6
3. Jessica Johnson/Gretja Otten (MER) def. Jordan Green/Fernanda Miaci (LMU) 21-19, 21-11
4. Danielle Faust/Claire Waliczek (MER) def. Samantha Cash/Kiera Holland (LMU) 21-13, 21-11
5. Demi-Shay Watchorn/Ellie James (MER) def. Erica Whiteaker/Peyton McDaniel (LMU), by forfeit
UP NEXT
Mercer opens up conference play on the road next weekend, traveling to Fort Meyers, Fla. for four Atlantic Sun matches against North Florida and Florida Gulf Coast. The first match is against North Florida on Saturday, March 19 at 1 p.m.
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.
%20(1).png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
