Saturday, August 26
Columbia, S.C.
10 a.m. ET
Mercer University
0-2
2
vs
3
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North Florida
2-0
1
2
3
4
5
F
North Florida
25
18
25
23
17
3
Mercer
21
25
19
25
15
2
Team Stats
UNF
MER
Kills
57
63
Errors
20
23
Attempts
151
159
Hitting %
.245
.252
Points
75.0
75.0
Assists
52
62
Aces
4
4
Blocks
14.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOpp.
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Travis Bell
Bears Cap Invitational with Win over Troy
8/26/2017 7:15:00 PM | Volleyball
Mercer defeats Troy for first win, falls to UNF earlier in the day
Columbia, S.C. – Mercer earned its first win of the season by defeating Troy, 3-1 (25-16, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23), in its second of two matches at the Gamecock Invitational on Saturday. The Bears were also defeated by North Florida in five sets, 3-2 (21-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 15-17), as they return to Macon with a 1-2 overall record.
HOW IT HAPPENED (North Florida)
Set 1 (21-25) | Mercer could not overcome an 11-4 run by the Ospreys in the opening set of the match. Despite being led by Emily Krogman with a serving ace and a kill in the following point, the Bears could not pull within two points for the rest of the set.
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Set 2 (25-18) | Mercer started out strong with a 4-0 run. Danielle Faust added three straight kills shortly after to push Mercer past UNF even further. A kill by Maria Avramova capped the second set win, which was highlighted by 14 kills – six from Faust.
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Set 3 (19-25) | UNF reclaimed the lead as the Bears struggled to find their rhythm in the third set. Both teams went back-and-forth with multiple errors. Mercer did notch three straight points late in the set, highlighted by a kill from Taylor Spence, but it was not enough.
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Set 4 (25-23) | Two kills apiece by Paige Alsten and Avramova gave Mercer an early lead en route to clinching the fourth set. Back-and-forth play throughout the set kept it a one-point game until the Bears finally pulled ahead with an ace by Claire Waliczek. A kill by Krogman clinched the fourth set.
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Set 5 (15-17) | Mercer's first five-set match of the year ended sourly as UNF clinched its second win of the year. Paige Alsten tied the match at 10 apiece with a kill, but costly errors down the stretch sealed the win for the Ospreys.
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HOW IT HAPPENED (Troy)
Set 1 (25-16) | Mercer opened with an 11-3 run, including an ace by Spence and three consecutive kills by Krogman, Avramova and Alsten. The kills were followed by a block by Alsten and Krogman. Back-to-back kills by Avramova and Spence later in the set gave Mercer an 18-10 lead before a crucial ace by Krogman secured the opening set win.
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Set 2 (20-25) | The set started slow with several errors from both teams. Just as Troy seemed to pull away, Waliczek and Alsten combined for a block to keep Mercer close. Alsten would add another pair of kills but Troy tied the match up at 1-1.
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Set 3 (25-21) | Starting with a 3-1 run, Mercer pulled ahead early only to see the third set tighten up later on. Another back-and-forth set was broken up as the Bears pulled ahead, 11-8, and remained in charge behind a pair of kills by Alsten and one from Krogman.
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Set 4 (25-23) | Mercer started with a bang, notching three points that included kills by Alsten and Spence. Faust and Alsten combined for a block that pushed Mercer ahead, 12-11 mid-way through the set. A service error by Troy clinched the victory for Mercer.
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NOTABLES
"We had some very strong statistical individual showings this weekend but the best thing to come out of the weekend would be we started to see some desire to play ball in this system," said head coach Derek Schroeder. "We had some offensive success and that fed the fire to want more. I think that means next week in practice we should see a lot of growth."
RECORD UPDATE
Mercer will host Alabama A&M on Sept. 1-2 at 6 p.m. (Friday, Sept. 1) and 2 p.m. (Saturday, Sept. 2). Both games will be held at Hawkins Arena.
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.
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HOW IT HAPPENED (North Florida)
Set 1 (21-25) | Mercer could not overcome an 11-4 run by the Ospreys in the opening set of the match. Despite being led by Emily Krogman with a serving ace and a kill in the following point, the Bears could not pull within two points for the rest of the set.
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Set 2 (25-18) | Mercer started out strong with a 4-0 run. Danielle Faust added three straight kills shortly after to push Mercer past UNF even further. A kill by Maria Avramova capped the second set win, which was highlighted by 14 kills – six from Faust.
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Set 3 (19-25) | UNF reclaimed the lead as the Bears struggled to find their rhythm in the third set. Both teams went back-and-forth with multiple errors. Mercer did notch three straight points late in the set, highlighted by a kill from Taylor Spence, but it was not enough.
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Set 4 (25-23) | Two kills apiece by Paige Alsten and Avramova gave Mercer an early lead en route to clinching the fourth set. Back-and-forth play throughout the set kept it a one-point game until the Bears finally pulled ahead with an ace by Claire Waliczek. A kill by Krogman clinched the fourth set.
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Set 5 (15-17) | Mercer's first five-set match of the year ended sourly as UNF clinched its second win of the year. Paige Alsten tied the match at 10 apiece with a kill, but costly errors down the stretch sealed the win for the Ospreys.
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HOW IT HAPPENED (Troy)
Set 1 (25-16) | Mercer opened with an 11-3 run, including an ace by Spence and three consecutive kills by Krogman, Avramova and Alsten. The kills were followed by a block by Alsten and Krogman. Back-to-back kills by Avramova and Spence later in the set gave Mercer an 18-10 lead before a crucial ace by Krogman secured the opening set win.
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Set 2 (20-25) | The set started slow with several errors from both teams. Just as Troy seemed to pull away, Waliczek and Alsten combined for a block to keep Mercer close. Alsten would add another pair of kills but Troy tied the match up at 1-1.
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Set 3 (25-21) | Starting with a 3-1 run, Mercer pulled ahead early only to see the third set tighten up later on. Another back-and-forth set was broken up as the Bears pulled ahead, 11-8, and remained in charge behind a pair of kills by Alsten and one from Krogman.
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Set 4 (25-23) | Mercer started with a bang, notching three points that included kills by Alsten and Spence. Faust and Alsten combined for a block that pushed Mercer ahead, 12-11 mid-way through the set. A service error by Troy clinched the victory for Mercer.
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NOTABLES
- Emily Krogman had a game-high 18 kills against UNF. It was the most kills by any Bear in either match.
- Claire Waliczek's 58 assists against UNF were a career high for the senior.
- The team totaled a .600 hitting percentage in the first set against Troy.
- Paige Alsten connected on 16 of her 24 attacks (.542) and added seven blocks against Troy. She had a team-best 34 total kills in the two matches Saturday.
- Waliczek totaled all 37 of Mercer's assists for the match versus Troy.
- Kacy Ogden made her collegiate debut against Troy.
"We had some very strong statistical individual showings this weekend but the best thing to come out of the weekend would be we started to see some desire to play ball in this system," said head coach Derek Schroeder. "We had some offensive success and that fed the fire to want more. I think that means next week in practice we should see a lot of growth."
RECORD UPDATE
- Mercer: 1-2
- North Florida: 2-0
- Troy: 0-3
Mercer will host Alabama A&M on Sept. 1-2 at 6 p.m. (Friday, Sept. 1) and 2 p.m. (Saturday, Sept. 2). Both games will be held at Hawkins Arena.
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.
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