ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst volleyball team will finish up the home portion of their 2019 regular season schedule this weekend with a pair of Pennsylvaina State Athletic Conference matches as they host the Vulcans of California University of Pennsylvania on Friday at 7:05pm, before facing off against the Griffins from Seton Hill University two days later on Sunday with first serve at 2:05pm. Both matches will take place inside the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
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Scouting the Lakers:
Mercyhurst has hit a rough patch in their schedule dropping their last five matches falling to 13-10 overall and 5-7 in conference play. The Lakers are coming off a hard-fought five set defeat at the hands of Edinboro University on Tuesday night. In that match
Tess Ganich led the team with 16 kills, while
Alyssa Zirnheld,
Katie Baird, and
Madison Kasper each added double-digit kills as well. The duo of
Hannah Vuylsteke and
Claire Kenny combined for 40 digs with Vuylsteke pacing the side with 26.
Mary Marusza joined Kenny in handing out assists on the evening as the two produced 46 with Kenny leading the way as she handed out 26. As a team the Lakers average 12.5 kills per set on a .189 hitting percentage, while allowing 11.5 kills to the opposition holding them to a .167 attack percentage. Defensively, they record 17.8 digs per frame and 1.6 blocks allowing 16.8 digs against along with 2.0 blocks per set. Baird is at the head of the Lakers attack with 260 kills averaging 3.13 per set. Teammates Zirnheld, Kasper, and Ganich all have over 170 kills on the season. At the service line seven players have double-digit aces with Vuylsteke and 35 leading the pack. She also ranks first on the team in digs with 496.
Leah Kern and
Addy Benjamin both have more than 50 blocks for the year with Kern at the top with 59.
LAKERS vs. California (Pa.)
Date - Friday, November 1st
Time - 7:05 pm
Location - Athletic Center
Series History - The Vulcans lead the series 11-3, including taking the match last season in Erie by a score of 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, and 25-22).
Scouting the Vulcans - California currently sits at 11-8 overall and 6-5 in PSAC action. Before facing the Lakers on Friday the Vulcans will play Gannon tonight. As of the publication of this release they post a .175 attack percentage averaging 11.8 kills per set. Their opposition hits .168 allowing 11.7 kills each frame. They put up 18.7 digs per set, while allowing 19.1 digs to their opponents. Kaylin Burkey and Sarah Moehring both have over 200 kills with Burkey leading the way with 230. Five players have been dominate at the service line with Jensen Silbaugh, Sarah Benson, Shelby Alloway, Burkey, and Moehring combining for 154 aces. Benson has been dishing out the ball left and right totaling 653 assists. Madison Kline paces the team in blocks at 42, while four players have over 200 digs apiece. Peter Letourneau is in his ninth season leading the Vulcans.
LAKERS vs. Seton Hill
Date - Sunday, November 3rd
Time - 2:05 pm
Location - Athletic Center
Series History - The Griffins lead the series 7-5, including a five-set victory last year at the Athletic Center by scores of 22-25, 25-17, 25-8, 21-25, and 15-8.
Scouting the Griffins - Seton Hill at the present moment hold a record of 12-8 with a 7-4 mark in the PSAC. Prior to their meeting on Sunday the Griffins will face Edinboro (Friday) and Gannon (Saturday) both on the road. As a team they are hitting just shy of .200 on the season sitting at .195 averaging 12.5 kills per set. They hold their opponents to a .166 attack percentage on 11.6 kills. Seton Hill puts up just under 20 digs per set to go along with 1.7 blocks. Viktoria Farian, Jillian Livorse, and Erin Parks all have over 100 kills with Farian leading the way with 306 coupled with a .245 attack percentage. She also leads the way on the service line totaling 41 aces. Veronica Johns and Farian both have accumulated over 300 digs each as Farian has a team-high 314. Jessica Hanson and Bobbi Rempe have been the best at the net combining for 81 blocks. Rick Hall is in his 35th season at the helm of the Griffins.
Playoff Outlook:
Mercyhurst is two games back of Clarion and California for the final playoff spot in the upcoming PSAC conference playoffs.
Northwest Division Standings:
Gannon - 11-1 PSAC, 19-5 overall
Edinboro - 7-5 PSAC, 13-10 overall
Clarion - 6-5 PSAC, 14-9 overall
Mercyhurst- 5-7 PSAC, 13-10 overall
Slippery Rock - 2-9 PSAC, 7-16 overall
Waiting in the Water:
The Lakers will close out the season on the road with games against Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Indiana (Pa.), and Slippery Rock along with a rematch at Clarion on November 15th.
