Mercer Defeats UAB Twice on Senior Day

Saturday, March 25

Macon, Ga.

12 PM ET

Mercer University

UAB

3/26/2017 12:47:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Match 1 Box Score Match 2 Box Score

The Bears complete season sweep of Blazers

By: Gerrit Van Genderen

MACON, Ga. – Mercer bookended a Senior Day ceremony with a pair of 3-2 wins over UAB at Bear Beach Saturday afternoon to improve to 8-5 overall this season.

Two Mercer pairs – Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman and Claire Waliczek/Danielle Faust – won both of their matches to improve to 10-3 and 9-4 overall, respectively. Both of Penrod/Krogman's wins came in the No. 1 seed while Waliczek/Faust won one in both the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds.

In addition to Penrod's two wins on senior day, fellow seniors Gretja Otten and Demi-Shay Watchorn both picked up one win apiece Saturday. Otten teamed up with Jessica Johnson to defeat UAB's No. 4 seed in straight sets during the first match while Watchorn and Alyssa Kirkman improved to 3-0 together with a No. 5 seed win in the second match.

The two victories completed a three-match season sweep of UAB for the Bears. Mercer now leads the Blazers (4-11) in their all-time series, 9-8.

Mercer returns to Bear Beach Wednesday afternoon to host Coastal Carolina in ASUN Conference action. Both matches – 3 and 5 p.m. – will be broadcast on the American Sports Network, marking the program's first-ever television broadcast.

UAB MATCH NO. 1 BREAKDOWN

Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) def. Avei Logoleo/Erika Zembyla (UAB): 21-16, 21-16
Claire Waliczek/Danielle Faust (MER) def. Avery Hoven/Katarina Jovicic (UAB): 19-21, 21-19, 15-13
Kenley Adams/Emily Martinez (UAB) def. Emma Peel/Sophie Peel (MER): 18-21, 21-18, 15-12
Gretja Otten/Jessica Johnson (MER): def. Gabbi Moreno/Rachel Evans (UAB): 21-16, 21-13
Haley Jared/Morgan Smith (UAB) def. Madison Kerr/Amber Gibson (MER): 21-19, 21-16

UAB MATCH NO. 2 BREAKDOWN

Tori Penrod/Emily Krogman (MER) def. Avei Logoleo/Erika Zembyla (UAB): 21-18, 21-12
Avery Hoven/Katarina Jovicic (UAB) def. Sophie Peel/Morgan MacGilvary (MER): 21-18, 21-17
Claire Waliczek/Danielle Faust (MER) def. Rachel Evans/Tressa Buckland (UAB): 21-16, 21-19
Kenley Adams/Emily Martinez (UAB) def. Gretja Otten/Jessica Johnson (MER): 21-10, 16-21, 15-11
Demi-Shay Watchorn/Alyssa Kirkman (MER) def. Haley Jared/Morgan Smith (UAB): 21-16, 21-16

PAIR OF THE MATCHES
An impressive day by the Bears as a whole was highlighted by two wins from Claire Waliczek and Danielle Faust. The duo won a three-set match in their first appearance of the year at the No. 2 seed before sweeping their following match at the No. 3 seed. The pair is 9-4 overall this season, ranking second on the team in total wins.

RECORDS UPDATE

Mercer: 8-5 (1-0 ASUN)
UAB: 4-11 (0-4 CCSA)

UP NEXT

Mercer: vs. Coastal Carolina at 3 and 5 p.m., March 29, at Bear Beach (Macon, Ga.)

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.