SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Mercyhurst volleyball concluded their 2019 campaign with a straight-set win over the host Rock of Slippery Rock University on Saturday afternoon at Morrow Field House in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action.  

The teams shared the opening eight points of the match to be locked 4-4.  Kills by Alyssa Zirnheld and Leah Kern along with three Rock errors put the Lakers in front 10-7.  Mercyhurst continued to carry the play taking four of the next six points with Addy Benjamin and Kern providing the scores to make it 14-9.  The Rock battled back though as a pair of assisted blocks and two visiting miscues drew the home team to within 14-13.  Tess Ganich, Kern, and Zirnheld picked up kills during a 6-2 run stretching the advantage to 20-15.  Slippery Rock stayed close with Abigail Nigon, Lauren Crytzer, and Zoe Rivet recording points cutting the deficit to 22-19.  Three straight home mistakes cost them the first 25-19.  

Baird, Ganich, and Kern helped the Lakers to get up early 5-2 in the second.  A Kaley Fucci service ace pulled Slippery Rock to down just one 7-6.  Kern posted a solo block to spark a 6-3 stretch by Mercyhurst aided by kills from Baird and Ganich to make the score 13-9.  Erinn Kahoe put up back-to-back kills to help her team trail by just three 16-13.  Zirnheld would be responsible for the next three Lakers scores as she bumped the advantage to 22-16 on an ace.  With Mercyhurst ahead 23-17 the Rock would call a timeout to stall the attack, but it would not work as Madison Kasper, Kate Hennessy, and Zirnheld putting away kills to take the second 25-18.

The Rock would take four separate one-point leads to start the thrid with the last one coming at 6-5 on a kill from Kahoe.  Kills from Zirnheld, Kern, and Baird coupled with a Kern block pushed the Lakers ahead 10-6.  Kahoe and Abigail Koeller put together a 6-4 stretch for the home side to get within 14-12.  Mercyhurst let the Rock get no closer as Anne Borah, Hannah Vuylsteke, Kern, and Zirnheld scored to give the guests a 21-14 advantage.  Both teams would earn four more points as a bad set by Shannon Ream ended the match 25-18. 

Mercyhurst was led by Zirnheld with 11 kills, 11 digs, and an ace.  Baird and Kern each added eight kills.  Ganich (5), Benjamin (3), Borah (2), Kasper (1), and Hennessy (1) accounted for the other kills.  Vuylsteke had a team-high 21 digs, while Mary Marusza chipped in 12.  Marusza also dished out 34 assists.

Koeller and her nine kills paced the Rock along with Fucci posting eight.  Gabby Huck had a team-high 20 digs.