Mercer University
#11 Grand Canyon
Sunday Split Highlighted by Win in ASUN Opener
3/12/2017 3:25:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
Mercer sweeps Jacksonville after a loss to No. 11 Grand Canyon
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A morning of snow at the beach was not enough to keep Mercer from sweeping Jacksonville, 5-0, in the ASUN Conference opener Sunday afternoon at the Gamecock Challenge at Wheeler Beach.
The win highlighted a 1-1 day for the Bears, who were defeated, 4-1, by nationally-ranked (AVCA) No. 11 Grand Canyon amidst snow flurries throughout the morning in Columbia. Mercer is 6-3 overall and 1-0 in ASUN play after the split.
No. 1-5 seeds flexed their dominance over the Dolphins in the afternoon clash, winning in straight sets for the easy victory. Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman and Sophie Peel/Emma Peel improved to 7-2 in the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds while Alyssa Kirkman and Demi-Shay Watchorn picked up their first win as a pair in the No. 5 seed.
In the morning match against Grand Canyon, Gretja Otten/Jessica Johnson opened the match with a two-set sweep in the No. 4 seed to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead. Mercer would drop the four other seeds; however, it took Grand Canyon three sets in all four to withstand the Bears. Both Penrod/Krogman and Peel/Peel won their opening sets before the Lopes rallied for wins in both.
All three of Mercer's losses this year have come at the hands of nationally ranked (AVCA) programs: #7 Georgia State, #15 South Carolina and #11 Grand Canyon. The Bears have won 31 of a total 45 individual matches so far this season and have maintained their best start in program history.
GRAND CANYON MATCH BREAKDOWN
- Tjasa Kotnik/Molly Turner (GCU) def. Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) 17-21, 23-21, 15-3
- Rebecca Conrad/Jessica Stansfield (GCU) def. Sophie Peel/Emma Peel (MER) 18-21, 21-10, 15-11
- Hannah Towne/Jordyn Sanchez (GCU) def. Claire Waliczek/Danielle Faust (MER) 21-16, 12-21, 15-13
- Gretja Otten/Jessica Johnson (MER) def. Emily Reinking/Kelli Iverson (GCU) 21-16, 21-19
- Tyanna Roy/Jessica Clark (GCU) def. Amber Gibson/Madison Kerr (MER) 21-12, 18-21, 15-12
- (EXH.) Anna Unasch/Leigh Stonerook (GCU) def. Abigail Moss/Marina Chavez (MER) 23-21, 21-12
JACKSONVILLE MATCH BREAKDOWN
- Emily Krogman/Tori Penrod (MER) def. Mackenzie Swan/Cristina Finan (JU) 21-19, 21-14
- Sophie Peel/Emma Peel (MER) def. Megan Widener/Morgan Dees (JU) 21-15, 21-15
- Claire Waliczek/Danielle Faust (MER) def. Jizzyan Gesualdo/Shelby Babowicz (JU) 21-18, 21-9
- Jessica Johnson/Gretja Otten (MER) def. Katie Krawczyk/Vanessa Richards (JU) 21-13, 21-17
- Demi-Shay Watchorn/Alyssa Kirkman (MER) def. Natalie Wehner/Hanna McMahon (JU) 21-19, 21-17
- (EXH.) Lela McIntosh/Morgan MacGilvary (MER) def. Tori Reiser/Ashlyne Miller (JU) 21-15, 18-21, 15-11
PAIR OF THE MATCHES
Jessica Johnson/Gretja Otten went 2-0 for the Bears Sunday and improved to 2-2 overall as a pairing. All four of their matches have come in the No. 4 seed this season. Both of their wins Sunday came in two-set affairs as they were the only Mercer pairing to come away with a victory against No. 11 Grand Canyon.
RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 6-3
- #11 Grand Canyon: 8-2
- Jacksonville: 1-7
UP NEXT
- Mercer: vs. Tulane and UNCW at Charleston Beach Invitational (Friday, March 24 in Charleston, South Carolina)
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.
