August 27, 2010

Volleyball Drops a Pair on Opening Day

SEATTLE, Wash. – Junior outside hitter Aimee Frutchey posted a double-double effort with 10 kills and 15 digs, but Mercer came up short against Eastern Washington in its season opener, losing 3-0 (26-24, 28-26, 25-12) on Friday afternoon. On Friday night, Mercer fell victim to Pac-10 powerhouse Washington on its home floor, 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-15).

The match against Eastern Washington was held at the Connolly Center and marked the first contest of the 2010 Invitational at Seattle. Mercer’s matchup with Washington marked the Huskies’ season opener.

“Against Eastern Washington, we got down a few different times and did a good job of battling back,” head coach Noelle Rooke said. “It was one of those back-and-forth games that could have gone either way”.

At the start of the Bears first match of the day each team traded scores before Eastern Washington pulled away from a 9-9 tie with a 9-2 surge. Trailing 17-11, Rooke called a timeout to compose the Bears. Following the stoppage, Mercer senior Erica Vrvilo smashed a kill that sparked a 4-0 Bears run.

The Bears eventually pulled even with the Eagles at 22 apiece and later the scoreboard read 24-24, but Eastern Washington capped the first set with consecutive points to take a 26-24 victory.

In set two, Mercer started slow and faced a daunting 9-1 deficit after the first 10 points. The Bears methodically chipped away at the Eagles’ advantage before knotting the second set at 14-14. Later in the set, the teams were all-even at 26 apiece before Eastern Washington once again scored consecutive points to close the frame.

Mercer freshman setter Bridget Sheerin passed out 21 assists and notched seven digs in her collegiate debut. Junior libero Charlotte Harris collected 13 digs in the losing effort.

Sophomore Jamie Duffy tallied a career-high 11 digs and while freshman Emily Rochefort recorded nine digs of her own.

In the night cap, Mercer faced the unenviable task of facing the No. 8 Washington Huskies. In front of a friendly crowd in its home opener, Washington cruised to victory in the opening two sets.

Mercer took its first lead of the night in the third set, 3-2, when junior middle blocker Charlayna Braxton employed a back-handed punch which found a soft spot in the Washington defense.

The Huskies would regroup and eventually claim a 25-15 third set win.

Senior middle blocker Krista Hurley led the Bears offensively, racking up six kills. Harris notched 13 digs in the loss.

Mercer returns to action in day two of the Invitational at Seattle, challenging Portland State at 2 p.m. and Seattle at 10 p.m.