September 7, 2010

Volleyball to Take on Georgia State

MACON, Ga. – Riding a two-match winning streak, the Mercer volleyball team is set for a mid-week non-conference test at Georgia State on Wednesday.   Match time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Last Time Out

Mercer junior Amiee Frutchey piled up nine kills, nine digs and three blocks as the Bears cruised to a 3-0 victory over The Citadel in Saturday afternoon’s non-conference volleyball match at the University Center.

Scouting the Opposition

Georgia State returns six starters from last year’s team that finished 16-14 (3-11 CAA). The Panthers are 4-2 (0-0 CAA) after most recently sweeping Montana on Sept. 4. Georgia State was picked to finish 10th in the CAA in a preseason poll conducted by the league’s coaches.

Georgia State has already faced an Atlantic Sun opponent in 2010, downing North Florida 3-1 on Aug. 28.

The Panthers are led offensively by Vineece Verdun, a redshirt junior from Bloomfi eld Hills, Michigan. Verdun has already racked up 88 kills in 24 sets played this season.

Georgia State ranks second among CAA teams in digs per set (16.79). Libero Audrey Cantrell tops the team in digs with 106 in 24 sets.

Game Notes

 

After missing the first four matches of the season, senior middle blocker Libby Hansch returned from injury and averaged 1.25 blocks per set. Hansch leads all Atlantic Sun players in blocks per set. Thus far, Hansch has racked up 18 blocks in just 15 sets.

Georgia State leads the all-time series between the teams, 22-4.  The last time the teams met was September 8, 2008.  In that meeting, Mercer claimed a 3-2 victory in Atlanta.

Under coach Rooke, the Bears are 2-4 in meetings with Georgia State.

Against UT Martin on Sept. 4, 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.