Mercer University
Coastal Carolina
Mercer Beach Volleyball Finishes Season at A-Sun Championships
4/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
EMERSON, Ga. – The Mercer beach volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Atlantic Sun Championships on Saturday, defeating Coastal Carolina by a score of 3-2 in the first match before falling to No. 2 North Florida by a final of 4-1. The loss to the Ospreys eliminates the Bears from the tournament and marks the end of their season.
MATCH VS. COASTAL CAROLINA
The Bears pulled out a 3-2 win over Coastal Carolina in the first match of the day to keep their Atlantic Sun title hopes alive. Despite the close final score, Mercer's three victories came in comfortable straight-set fashion.
Tori Penrod and Emily Krogman were dominant at the No. 2 position, rolling to a 21-10, 21-7 win. Almost equally as impressive was the performance put on by the No. 5 team of Alyssa Kirkman and Demi-Shay Watchorn, as the pair breezed by the competition in a 21-12, 21-8 victory.
Mercer's other triumph came from the No. 4 spot, as Jessica Johnson and Gretja Otten disposed of their opponents in two sets, winning 21-16, 21-10. The Bears went 2-0 against the Chanticleers this season.
FINAL SCORES
1. Natasa Savovic/Alise Petersone (CCU) def. Emma Peel/Sophie Peel (MER) 21-19, 21-18
2. Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) def. Tahleia Bishop/Aleksandra Djuric (CCU) 21-10, 21-7
3. Leah Hardeman/Carla Cahill (CCU) def. Morgan MacGilvary/Ellie James (MER) 21-19, 16-21, 15-12
4. Jessica Johnson/Gretja Otten (MER) def. Sara Boothe/Mika Mierzwa (CCU) 21-16, 21-10
5. Alyssa Kirkman/Demi-Shay Watchorn (MER) def. Dora Lulic/Iva Mandic (CCU) 21-12, 21-8
MATCH VS. NORTH FLORIDA
With the win over Coastal Carolina, Mercer faced No. 2 North Florida as only four teams remained in the tourney. The Bears got off to a great start, claiming the first set in three of the five matches. However, the Orange and Black could not sustain the momentum, as the Osprey won by a final score of 4-1.
The lone Mercer point came from Penrod and Krogman, who capped off an impressive showing at the A-Sun Championships. The team defeated North Florida in straight sets by a score of 21-15, 21-11. The duo finished its weekend with a perfect 4-0 record, all coming in two sets.
FINAL SCORES
1. Jessalyn Kinlaw/Megan Crawshaw (NF) def. Emma Peel/Sophie Peel (MER) 21-13, 21-18
2. Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) def. Lauren Ford/Kimberly Ferguson (NF) 21-15, 21-11
3. Katrina Raicevic/Courtney Miller (NF) def. Morgan MacGilvary/Ellie James (MER) 13-21, 21-12, 15-9
4. Ambre Desaulnay/Chaney Howard (NF) def. Jessica Johnson/Gretja Otten (MER) 21-18, 25-23
5. Carina Hoff/Brittany Pase (NF) def. Alyssa Kirkman/Demi-Shay Watchorn (MER) 16-21, 21-13, 15-13
RECORD UPDATE
The Bears finish the season with a 10-13 record and are now 5-11 all-time at the Atlantic Sun Tournament.
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.
