ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's volleyball team will look to snap their two-game skid on Thursday night when they travel cross town to take on the rival Lady Knights of Gannon University for Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action at the Hammermill Center with first service set for 7pm.

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Head Coach Ryan Patton on last weekend and looking ahead to this week:

"We played two very good teams last weekend and the matches couldn't have been more different.  When we were in the overtime points of the fourth against Shepherd, there wasn't a player or coach who didn't feel that if we got one point to go our way to force a fifth game we were in great shape to take the match.  The Shippensburg match was one where you're playing a team you match up evenly with and before you know it you gave up six in the top of the first or three goals in the first ten minutes and, it is like okay, that's how this one is going to go.  We came out of the weekend disappointed, but we are focusing forward."

Gannon and Clarion are the types of opponents we want to play.  We want to play teams with good records, good players, and good coaches in matches where we have to be sharp to win. Entering the second half of conference play well in the mix for the postseason, our job is to be in the moment and to savor each chance to compete.  If we continue to do that, we're going to get wins and this team is going to exceed expectations some others had for us.

Scouting the Lakers:  
Mercyhurst enters the tilt with a mark of 13-7 overall and 5-4 inside the PSAC.  They are coming off of an 0-2 week with setbacks on the road at Shepherd and Shippensburg.  The Lakers are hitting .197 as a team averaging 12.9 kills per set on 12.1 assists per frame.  Defensively, they post 18.1 digs to go along with 1.6 blocks per set.  Katie Baird paces the offense with 235 kills posting 3.26 per set, in addition to 32 blocks for the year.  Tess Ganich, Madison Kasper, and Alyssa Zirnheld each have over 150 kills with Zirnheld leading the group at 168.  The three of them have combined for 66 blocks on the season.  Hannah Vuylsteke and Beth Brady both have triple-digits in digs as Vuylsteke has 438, while Brady has 156.  Vuylsteke also leads on the service line with 31 aces, while at the net Alexa Mitchell, Claire Kenny, and Mary Marusza all have over 110 assists with Marusza heading the trio with 372.  

Scouting the Lady Knights:
Gannon currently sits at 16-5 overall and lead the Northwest division with a record of 9-1.  They went 1-1 last week as they lost to Shepherd in five, before rebounding the next day to down Shippensburg in straight sets.  Gannon hits .227 as a team with 13.3 kills per set, while holding their opponents to a .121 attack percentage allowing 10.2 kills each set.  The Lady Knights also average 17.3 digs per set along with 2.3 blocks.  They boast a balanced attack with five players totaling over 130 kills on the season, with Ashley McClung leading the side with 186.  On the service line Ally Smith has a team-high 33 aces, while Valeria Torres and Toni Leitshuh have 29 and 25 respectively.  Ashley Beyers has handed out 764 assists for the year.  At the other end of the floor Ashley Kerestes (73) and Maggie Greenfield (71) lead the Lady Knights in blocks.  Head coach Matt Darling is in his 13th season at the helm of Gannon. 

Series History:
Gannon holds a 16-5 edge in the series, which includes a 3-1 (25-17, 25-22, 20-25, and 25-17) win at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on October 1, 2019.  Baird and Zirnheld led the Lakers that night with 13 kills each.  Vuylsteke paced the hosts with 24 digs, while Kenny had a team-high 22 assists.        

Waiting in the Water:
Mercyhurst returns to action on Saturday, October 26th at 2:05 pm when they host the Golden Eagles of Clarion University in PSAC play.  It will be Senior Day for the Lakers as they will honor their five seniors Mary Marusza, Tess Ganich, Alyssa Zirnheld, Leah Kern, and Katie Baird pre-game.