Mercyhurst 3, Ohio Valley 0
Mercyhurst 3, Holy Family 0 

ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst College volleyball team (2-0) cruised to a pair of wins at the 2009 Mercyhurst College Invitational. The Lakers defeated Ohio Valley 3-0 in the season opener (25-7, 25-19, 25-6) before handing Holy Family a 3-0 loss (25-21, 25-10, 25-18). 

Freshman middle blocker Becky Smith paced a high-powered Lakers offense against Ohio Valley, collecting six kills while adding two block solos and a block assist. Also providing firepower were sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Richardson, freshman outside hitter Amanda Balasko and junior middle hitter Erin English with four kills each. Freshman opposite Becky Leusch deposited three kills while freshman outside hitter Chelsea Jensen, freshman outside hitter Gretta Freyermuth and defensive specialist Nicole Miozzi recorded two kills each. 

Jensen also led the team with six service aces while senior setter Julia Butler recorded 16 helpers.
Defensively, Chelsea Hennigan and Kendall Ashworth led the Lakers with eight digs while Butler added four digs. Also contributing multiple digs were Jensen and Justine Swanson.

Against Holy Family, the defense stifled its opposition as the offense again fired on all cylinders. Jensen was the lone Laker in double-digits in kills with 10 while Leusch and Smith each garnered five kills. Butler notched 23 assists and Ashworth chipped in three helpers. Laura Shaffer was one of four Lakers in the match to have an ace. 

On the defense, the powerful tandem of Leusch and Justine Smith punished the Tigers attack as Leusch contributed five block assists with Smith also adding five block assists and a block solo. Kiera Rebert paced the Lakers in digs with 17 while Balasko also joined in the double-digit effort with 11.
Mercyhurst looks to continue its unbeaten ways on the second day of the Mercyhurst Invitational when they take on Houghton at 12:30 p.m. and Carlow at 4 p.m.

Day 1 Results
Carlow 3, OVU 0 (25-15, -20, -19)
Holy Family 3, Houghton 2 (25-19, 15-25, 21-25, 25-17, 17-15)
Houghton 3, Carlow 0 (25-20, -17, -22)
Mercyhurst 3, Ohio Valley 0 (25-7, -19, -6)
Mercyhurst 3, Holy Family 0 (25-21, -10, -18)

Day 2 Schedule
Ohio Valley vs. Houghton 9:00
Carlow vs. Holy Family 10:45
Houghton vs. Mercyhurst 12:30
Holy Family vs. Ohio Valley 2:15
Mercyhurst vs. Carlow 4:00