Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky.- The Mercyhurst volleyball team won its 2014 season opener, sweeping Salem International Friday at the Bellarmine Volleyball Classic. The Lakers won by scores of 25-11, 25-19, and 25-20, over the Tigers.

In the first game, the score was even at three before Mercyhurst took control with a 14-3 run. Hannah Tombaugh sparked the spurt, assisting on five points and serving four aces. The sophomore set up Lauren Kenny for four kills to give the Lakers a commanding advantage. Kelly Vitt closed the opening game, serving out the final six points that featured a pair of Vitt assists. She found Sarah Puckett for a kill to put Mercyhurst ahead, 1-0, in the match.

Salem hung around longer in the second frame, going up, 12-11, midway through the action. After two Tiger errors, Sarah Wegrzyn posted a kill and Puckett and Haley Adams teamed up for a block to give the Lakers a 15-12 edge. Erin Byrnes recorded a point and then combined with Lexi Stefanov for a block and an 18-16 lead. With Mercyhurst up 20-19, Samantha Giardina served out the frame, assisting on a Wegrzyn kill and then serving an ace to push Salem to the brink. A Tiger error allowed Mercyhurst to take a 2-0 lead in the contest.

SIU grabbed a 16-10 advantage in the third game, but an 11-0 run reclaimed Laker momentum. Camille Alvarez tallied four aces in the streak, while Byrnes contributed three kills. Points by Adams and Kyla Miles eventually ended the night in the Lakers' favor.

Wegrzyn and Kenny each totaled eight kills, while Byrnes added five. Tombaugh dished out 12 assists and served four aces. Giardina compiled 19 digs, while Alvarez recorded four aces and five digs. The Lakers hit .209 as a team and held Salem to -.074 attacking on the day.

Mercyhurst (1-0) returns to action tomorrow for a pair of contests, facing Bellarmine and Anderson (SC) Saturday afternoon.