ERIE, Pa. - After an 11-game roadtrip and matching thier best start since 2016 at 8-3 the Mercyhurst volleyball team finally gets to take the court at Mercyhurst Athletic Center for the start of PSAC play as they welcome Bloomsburg University on Thursday for the home opener, before squaring off with Lock Haven University on Saturday on Homecoming.

Scouting the Lakers:
Mercyhurst enters their PSAC and home opener on Thursday having won two straight after a 2-2 weekend at the PSAC/Moutain East Crossover.  On Friday, they were downed in five grueling sets against Fairmont State, before battling hard but ultimately falling to No. 21 Wheeling in four.  The Lakers rebounded nicely just under 24-hours later when they defeated Notre Dame (Ohio) and West Liberty both by 3-0 margins.  Senior Katie Baird was the leading attacker totaling 60 kills, 30 digs, six blocks, and two aces.  Sophomore Madison Kasper racked up 38 kills in the four matches, with a career-best 19 on Friday against Fairmont.  Alyssa Zirnheld and Tess Ganich each recorded double-digit kills in matches as well.  Libero Hannah Vuylsteke paced the side in digs every match which inculded 20 or more in three of them.  The setting duo of Mary Marusza and Alexa Mitchell was strong as well for the Lakers.  

Head Coach Ryan Patton on last weekend and looking ahead:

"Last weekend gave us a good reading of where this team is – that we have the ability to be pretty darn good for long stretches, but also that we have some things we have to tighten up.  We have a long way to go, but I'm okay with where we are heading into conference play."

"I think I can speak for everyone that we're ready to play matches without having to first get off a bus.  Bloomsburg and Lock Haven gave us more problems than we wanted last year, including a loss, and we're expecting to have to play well to get the results we want this year.  This is an athletic group that plays hard and I'm excited to get into PSAC play and for the home crowd to enjoy them."

LAKERS vs. Bloomsburg
Date - Thursday, September 25
Time - 7:05pm
Location - Mercyhurst Athletic Center
Series History - Mercyhurst leads 1-0 (Hurst won last meeting 3-1 on 10/26/18)
Scouting the Huskies - Bloomsburg comes to Erie with a 5-7 record, but have won their last two matchups against Virginia Union and West Virginia Wesleyan by 3-0 scorelines.  As a team they average 10.6 kills per set with a .119 hitting percentage.  Defensively, as a unit they put up 16.9 digs per set and 2.1 blocks per set.  Grace Giza paces the Huskies attack with 122 kills, followed closely by Mary Kate Mooney at 111.  Brooke Kratzer leads the side in both aces (17) and assists (191).  On the other side of the floor, Julia Burcin has racked up a team-high 40 blocks with Alyssa Cianciulli posting a team-best 319 digs.  Dan Kreiger is the second year head coach of the Huskies.  

LAKERS vs. Lock Haven
Date - Saturday, September 28
Time - 5:05pm
Location - Mercyhurst Athletic Center
Series History - Lock Haven leads 6-3 (LHU won last meeting 3-1 on 10/27/18)
Scouting the Bald Eagles: Lock Haven enters the week at 6-4 and play two matches prior to meeting the Lakers on Saturday against Edinboro (Thurs.) and Gannon (Fri.).  Last weekend the Bald Eagles went 2-2 with wins against Salem and Glenville State, before dropping two to Wilmington (Del.) and Daemen (N.Y.).  The side averages 11.0 kills per set hitting .129 on 10.1 assists per frame.  On the defensive end of the court Lock Haven averages 17.7 digs and under a block per set.  Breanna McDonald leads their attack with 122 kills, posting 3.39 per set on a .250 attack percentage.  Kristen Nealon leads the team on the service line with 25 aces and assists 323.  Gloria Kroh and McDonald have totaled double-digit for the year with McDonald leading the team at 15.   Eric Buggs is the first year head coach of the Bald Eagles.