ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst volleyball team fell in four sets in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action to Pittsburgh Johnstown on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers claimed the second set with a score of 29-27, leaving the Mountain Cats to claim set one 25-17, set three 25-19, and set four 25-22.
Mercyhurst (6-9, 1-3 PSAC) was led by
Alyssa Zirnheld and
Tess Ganich, who each posted 11 kills.
Shelby Chesko and Alysa Kling each added seven kills, while
Katie Baird contributed six.
Abby Rose contributed the most assists with 22,
Makayla Mollé added 20. Baird led the Lakers in digs with 21. Chesko and Kling each contributed three block assists, Kling posted one solo-block.
The opposing Mountain Cats were led by Marissa Erminio who posted 11 kills, Kendall Mahony who posted 10, and Wierman Cambria who contributed 8.
Pittsburgh Johnstown went on a 12-4 stretch during the first set that they would hold onto to close the set. The Lakers would cut that deficit to as little as seven points when they brought the action to 16-24.
Mercyhurst would claim set two in extra points reaching a 29-27 score before claiming victory. The Lakers jumped to their biggest lead of the set when they went up 17-12, only to have Pittsburgh Jonstown chip away eventually knotting the action 24-24. Mercyhurst would engage in a back and forth to a 27-27 deadlock where a kill by Zirnheld and a block from Kling would give the Lakers the two point advantage they needed.
Pittsburgh Johnstown jumped to a 13-3 lead in set three. The Lakers would eat away at the Mountain Cat lead to bring the action to a 19-23 at its smallest.
Mercyhurst took the lead twice in the fourth set, first when they jumped out 2-1 in the beginning of the set, stretching their lead to as high as four leading 6-2. The Lakers would take a second lead when they would lead 8-7 off of a service error. The closest the Lakers would come to taking the lead again is when they knotted the action twice more once at 13-13 and again at 21-21.
Mercyhurst will return to action on October 6
th, against PSAC competitor Clarion, at 7:05 pm, in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.