ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst volleyball team looks to continue their climb up the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference standings this weekend when they face the two top teams in the Southeast division on the road taking on Shepherd on Friday, before battling Shippensburg the next day.

Scouting the Lakers:
Mercyhurst will come into this weekend's action with a record of 13-5 overall and a mark of 5-2 in the PSAC.  The Lakers are currently riding a three-game winning streak with victories over Kutztown, West Chester, and Millersville by a combined set score of 9-2.  On Friday night, in a 3-1 win against the Golden Rams the team was led by double-digit kills from Tess Ganich, Katie Baird, Alyssa Zirnheld, and Madison Kasper.  Hannah Vuylsteke added a team-high 25 digs, while Claire Kenny and Mary Marusza combined for 40 assists.  The next day versus the Marauders a 3-1 win for Mercyhurst.  Zirnheld paced the side with a season-high 18 kills with Baird and Ganich also posting double-figures.  Vuylsteke, Kenny, and Baird recorded double-digit digs.  The duo of Marusza and Kenny handed out another 40 helpers.   

Head Coach Ryan Patton on team's performance and looking at this weekend.
"I'm happy with the way last weekend went.  Against West Chester we weren't our sharpest, but despite that we grinded our way to the win.  In the Millersville match, we started out okay, even if a little shaky in a few connections, but as the match went on we started making plays and it felt like we were the aggressors as the day wore on.  They were different kinds of wins, both satisfying in their own way."

"We're entering the toughest stretch of our schedule, but our focus right now is solely on this weekend playing a pair of teams that are rightfully confident in Shepherd and Shippensburg both in their gym.  We've had several practices this week that indicated there is 'extra' in our group, so we'll face up to these challenges – confidently – one at a time."

LAKERS at Shepherd University
Date - Friday, October 18
Time - 7:00 pm
Location - Shepherdstown, W. Va. (Butcher Athletic Center)
Series History - Lakers lead 3-1 (Shepherd won last meeting 3-0 on 8/31/18)
Media Links - Live Video  /  Live Stats
Scouting the Rams - Shepherd got off to an 18-0 start, before suffering their first loss of the season to conference foe Shippensburg on Wednesday.  Prior to the match with Mercyhurst on Friday the Rams will take on the Lady Knights of Gannon on Thursday.  On the season they are hitting .199 averaging 12.0 kills per set, while holding the opposition to .091 attack percentage on 9.4 kills per set.  Defensively, they average 16.1 digs per set to go along with 2.3 blocks per frame.  Individually, Peyton Lindblad and Cambriea Hill lead the attack as both have over 200 kills for the season and average above three per set.  Also, on the offensive side of the net four players have more than 20 service aces.  At the other end of the floor Imani Major leads the Rams in digs with 349, while Georgia Ohmke has a team-high 64 blocks.  Head coach Alex Hoekstra is in his fifth year of leading Shepherd.

LAKERS at Shippensburg University
Date - Saturday, October 19
Time - 4:00 pm
Location - Shippensburg, Pa. (Heiges Field House)
Series History - Shippensburg leads 6-5 (Hurst won last meeting 3-1 on 10/19/18)
Media Links - Live Video  /  Live Stats
Scouting the Raiders - Shippensburg sits at 15-3 overall and undefeated in PSAC play.  They are currently riding a seven-game winning streak heading into their match against Gannon on Friday, before facing the Lakers Saturday.  For the year the Raiders average 13.1 kills per set with a .201 attack percentage, while forcing the other team to hit .140 on 11.0 kills per set.  They average just under 20 digs per set at 19.5 and put up just under two blocks each frame.  Shippensburg uses a balanced attack with Gabriella Johnson, Samantha Webber, Kendall Johnson, and Gianna Sigado each totaling over 120 kills with G. Johnson leading the way at 216.  On the service line look out for Syera McCormick and Emily Hangen who have combined for 43 aces.  Defensively, three players have eclipsed the 200 digs mark, while K. Johnson and Webber both have over 50 blocks.  Head coach Leanne Piscotty is in her 16th season at the helm of the Raiders.

Waiting in the Water:
The Lakers will stay on the road for one more match as they take on local rival Gannon on Thursday, October 24th at 7:00 pm, before returning to the Athletic Center on Saturday, October 26th against Clarion for Senior Day at 2:05 pm.