Mercer University
Jacksonville
Beach Volleyball Earns Split in Opening Day of A-Sun Tourney
4/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
EMERSON, Ga. – The Mercer beach volleyball went 1-1 in the first day of the Atlantic Sun Championships on Friday. The Bears defeated No. 5 Jacksonville in the opening round by a final of 4-1 before falling to No. 1 Stetson in the semifinals by a score of 4-1. Mercer will try to keep its tournament hopes alive in the double elimination format against No. 6 Coastal Carolina on Saturday.
QUARTERFINALS VS. NO. 5 JACKSONVILLE
The Orange and Black won both three-set matches against the Dolphins in the opening match of the tourney, which turned out to be the difference in the 4-1 victory to advance to the semifinals. The Bears have now won their opening match at the A-Sun Championships in three consecutive seasons.
Mercer's most dominant display came from the No. 2 team of Tori Penrod and Emily Krogman. Fresh off receiving Atlantic Sun All Conference recognition, the duo rolled to a straight-set 21-9, 21-16 win. Equally impressive was the No. 4 tandem of Jessica Johnson and Gretja Otten, as the pair recorded a decisive 21-10, 21-13 victory, putting the Bears one win away from advancing to the semis.
After the Orange and Black fell at No. 3, it needed to pull out a three-set win at the No. 1 or 5 positions. Fortunately for Mercer, it got both. The Bears' top pair, the sister team of Emma and Sophie Peel, dropped a tight first set but rebounded to take the second and third 21-15, 15-9. At No. 5 Demi-Shay Watchorn and Alyssa Kirkman split the first two sets before posting a 15-9 victory in the third to seal the win.
FINAL SCORES
1. Sophie Peel/Emma Peel (MER) def. Kelly Koop/Mayara Prestes (JU) 18-21, 21-15, 15-9
2. Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) def. Katie Krawczyk/Emily Laskelle (JU) 21-9, 21-16
3. Mackenzie Swan/Cristina Finan (JU) def. Morgan MacGilvary/Ellie James (MER) 21-13, 21-19
4. Jessica Johnson/Gretja Otten (MER) def. Shelby Babowicz/Olga Nushtayeva (JU) 21-10, 21-13
5. Demi-Shay Watchorn/Alyssa Kirkman (MER) def. Hanna McMahon/Gaby Nieto Gomez (JU) 23-21, 13-21, 15-9
MATCH TWO
Top-seeded Stetson, also ranked No. 8 in the country, was too much for the Bears in the semifinals of the winner's bracket on Friday, as the Hatters defeated Mercer 4-1 to advance to play No. 3 Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday.
Mercer's lone victory came from the No. 2 team of Penrod and Krogman, as the pair picked up their second two-set win of the day in a 21-19, 21-17 decision over Stetson. The duo is now 13-6 on the season and 9-2 when playing at the No. 2 position.
The Bears battled in the other four matches but were unable to force a third set on any of the courts in the defeat.
FINAL SCORES
1. Sara Putt/Vendy Strakova (STET) def. Emma Peel/Sophie Peel (MER) 21-12, 21-16
2. Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) def. Kaylee Anderson/Emily Carroll (STET) 21-19, 21-17
3. Kristin Lind/Tiffany Creamer (STET) def. Morgan MacGilvary/Ellie James (MER) 21-18, 21-15
4. Rachel Noble/Madison Akins (STET) def. Jessica Johnson/Gretja Otten (MER) 21-18, 21-15
5. Alexa Richardson/Jamie Walsh (STET) def. Demi-Shay Watchorn/Alyssa Kirkman (MER) 21-14, 21-13
RECORD UPDATE
The Bears are now 9-12 on the season and 4-10 all-time at the Atlantic Sun Tournament.
UP NEXT
Mercer continues play at the A-Sun Championships on Saturday, April 23 as it plays No. 6 Coastal Carolina at 12: 30 p.m. The winner of the match will take on the winner of the No. 5 Jacksonville vs. No. 2 North Florida match later in the day at 3:30 p.m. for a chance to go to reach the final day of the tournament on Sunday.
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.
