ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst volleyball team looks to continue their assent to the top of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference standings when they welcome West Chester University and Millersville University to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Friday and Saturday.  

Media Links (both matches):
Live Video
Live Stats

Scouting the Lakers:
Mercyhurst went 1-1 last weekend in a two-game roadtrip that took them to East Stroudsburg and Kutztown.  The Warriors knocked off the Lakers by a 3-1 score on Saturday.  In that match Tess Ganich (15), Katie Baird (14), and Alyssa Zirnheld (13) all posted double-digit kills.  Three players posted double-figure in digs getting 26 from Hannah Vuylsteke and a combined 23 between Claire Kenny and Zirnheld.  Kenny handed out 25 assists to lead the team.  Then on Sunday, Mercyhurst rebounded nicely taking down the Golden Bears in straight sets.  That day the offense was spread out with no player recording double-digits as Madison Kasper, Leah Kern, Addy Benjamin, Baird, Zirnheld, and Ganich all had a hand in the victory.  Vuylsteke led the side in digs, while Kenny paced them in assists.  

LAKERS vs. West Chester
Date - Friday, October 11
Time - 7:05 pm
Location - Mercyhurst Athletic Center
Series History - Lakers lead the series 7-4 (WCU won last meeting 3-2 on 9/21/18)
Scouting the Golden Rams - West Chester enters the week with a 13-4 record and a 1-3 mark in the PSAC.  Prior to visiting Mercyhurst on Friday the Golden Rams will face the other team in Erie as they battle Gannon on Thursday night.  As a team they average 11.4 kills per set with a .224 hitting percentage.  While defensively WCU puts up 15.0 digs per set and 2.1 blocks per frame.  Julia Vreeswyk, Grace Whitney, and Sarah Polacek all have over 150 kills with Vreeswyk leading the way at 180.  On the service line Shaye Whiteman paces the side with 27 aces, but four other player have double-digits.  Grace Whitney has been a force at the net with 69 blocks, while teammate Rachel Robb has added 51.  Head coach Kassie Bellaver is her 14th season at the helm of WCU.       

LAKERS vs. Millersville
Date - Saturday, October 12
Time - 2:05 pm
Location - Mercyhurst Athletic Center
Series History - Lakers lead the series 9-2 (Hurst won the last meeting 3-2 on 9/22/18)
Scouting the Marauders - Millersville currently sits at 13-4 overall and 3-1 in PSAC action.  The record in this preview does not include matches with Edinboro and Gannon which occur Thursday and Friday.  As a team the Marauders post 12.6 kills per set hitting .237.  They hand out 11.8 assists per set, while on the other side of the court they put up 17.4 digs per set and 1.5 blocks per frame.  Jayci Suseland paces the attack with 222 kills averaging 3.83 per set with a .328 attack percentage.  Lindsey Blevins and Haley Butler also have a strong hand in the offense as both of them have eclipsed 130 kills on the season.  Rebecca Dalstad and Emily Hoffman both have recorded over 20 service aces.  Defensively, Carley Baughman and Suseland have 40 or more blocks for the campaign.  Head coach Brian Smith is in his 10th year at Millersville.     

Waiting in the Water:
Mercyhurst heads back out on the road for thier next three matches with visits to Shepherd, Shippensburg, and rival Gannon all on the horizon.