Volleyball Edges Florida Gulf Coast for Fourth-Straight Win

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mercer senior Libby Hansch and junior Amiee Frutchey each had 13 kills apiece as the Bears edged Florida Gulf Coast 3-2 (25-17, 25-22, 17-25, 20-25, 15-11) in Saturday night’s Atlantic Sun conference match at Alico Arena.

Mercer’s fourth-straight win moved the Bears to 10-14 (4-2 A-Sun).  FGCU suffered its third-straight loss and dropped to 4-15 (1-4 A-Sun).

“There are a lot of positives to take from this weekend,” Mercer head coach Noelle Rooke said. “We’re hitting our stride at the right time and we need to continue this run.”

Hansch had only three errors and finished the contest with a match-high .357 hitting percentage.  Frutchey narrowly missed her fourth-straight double-double, adding nine digs to her 13 kills.

Freshmen setters Bridget Sheerin and Carly Iannarino combined to dish out 49 assists in the winning effort.  Sheerin’s 26 assists came in conjunction with 12 digs and marked the Chicago, Ill. native’s second-straight double-double.

After Mercer took the first two sets, Florida Gulf Coast retaliated with wins in the third and fourth sets, setting the stage for a deciding fifth frame.

 FGCU struck first in the fifth set, scoring via a Mercer attack error.  Moments later, with the Eagles on top 3-1, Mercer employed an 8-3 run.  FGCU head coach Dave Nichols attempted to quell the Mercer charge with a timeout, but could come no closer than two scores for the remainder of the match.

Mercer returns to action at UNC Asheville on Oct. 19.  Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m.