September 3, 2010

Volleyball Splits on Day One of Bear Brawl

Box score versus Presbyterian

Bos score versus UT Martin

 

MACON, Ga. – Mercer junior Amiee Frutchey hammered down 23 kills in two matches as the Mercer volleyball team earned a on the opening day of the Bear Brawl at the University Center.  Mercer fell to Presbyterian 3-2 (25-20, 20-25, 13-25, 25-20, 15-10) but rebounded to take out UT Martin, 3-1 (25-18, 28-26, 16-25, 25-19).

Mercer snapped a six-match losing streak with its win over UT Martin and improved to 1-6 (0-0 A-Sun).  The Skyhawks slipped to 1-4 (0-0 OVC).  Presbyterian also topped The Citadel on Friday and moved to 2-1 (0-0 Big South).

“It just all came together tonight and there are so many positives across the board,” head coach Noelle Rooke said.  “There were a lot of contributors and we worked together to form a balanced attack.  Momentum is so key in this game and we rode it when we had it.”

Against UT Martin, Mercer freshman setter Bridget Sheerin dished out 40 assists and added 11 digs for her first collegiate career double-double.  Sheerin’s assist total marked the highest number of helpers for a Mercer player since Kelly Jansen racked up 67 on November 2, 2007.

Bolstered by the recent return of senior middle blocker Libby Hansch, Mercer’s front-line defense smothered the UT Martin attack repeatedly.  All told, the Bears racked up 14 blocks, the highest block total for the team since it had 15 against North Florida on Sept. 13, 2008.

Hansch notched a match-high seven total blocks against the Skyhawks, while junior Anna Coursey chipped in five and senior Krista Hurley added four.

Junior libero Charlotte Harris also contributed to a stingy Mercer defense, piling up 31 digs in the winning effort.

Frutchey tallied 14 kills to go along with 18 digs against UT Martin, marking the Gresham, Ore. native’s second double-double performance of the season.

Trailing 5-6 in the opening set, Rooke subbed in freshman Cassie Roy into the game, hoping to utilize her serving ability.  Roy promptly delivered, acing the Skyhawks on consecutive points to help the Bears pull back in front.  Mercer would not relinquish that lead for the rest of the first frame.

Roy finished with four aces, eight digs and a pair of kills.

In the second set, Mercer rallied from a 17-11 deficit with a 12-6 run that tied the set at 23 apiece.  Moments later, the Bears pulled away from a 25-25 tie when Sheerin crushed a kill, then combined with Hansch on a block-assist to give Mercer a 28-26 victory.

After dropping the third set, Mercer cruised to a fourth set victory behind a set-high four kills by Frutchey.  Mercer took its biggest lead of the night in the final set at 20-11.

Against Presbyterian, Frutchey narrowly missed a double-double with nine kills and 19 digs.

The first set between Mercer and Presbyterian featured 12 tie scores and four lead changes, but ultimately the Blue Hose came away with a 25-20 set one victory.  Mercer retaliated with its own 25-20 victory in set two.

Energized by the set two victory, Mercer cruised to a 25-13 win in set three behind a powerful defensive performance.  In the third set, Mercer limited the Blue Hose to just six kills on 30 attempts.

Day two of the Bear Brawl begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday in a neutral site match between UT Martin and Presbyterian.  At 3 p.m., Mercer challenges The Citadel in the tournament’s finale.