ERIE, PA—The Mercyhurst volleyball team is gearing up to open the fall sports season at home with three matches this weekend. They will start by taking on Grand Valley State on Friday at 7:00 p.m. followed by two matches on Saturday against Malone University and Notre Dame College.
1.A Look Back
The Lakers finished the season with a 7-9 record in the PSAC West giving them a sixth-place finish in the conference. The Lakers graduated six players at the end of last season including
Beth Brady who led the team in kills (297) and
Hannah Vuylsteke who was a defensive force with 582 digs. The experienced Laker lineup went on a 6-0 run in the middle of last season including a 3-0 win against cross town rival Gannon who is ranked first in this year's preseason poll.
2.New Faces
The Lakers are welcoming in five new freshmen to the squad along with graduate transfer
Naesha Kelley. Kelley spent the last four years at Siena College and looks to bring some experience to a young Laker lineup. The freshman class includes
Maddie Parks from nearby Meadville, Pa.,
Alia Mastromatteo, a setter from Galesburg, Mich., a 6-foot middle blocker, Kaitlyn Murphy, and two more front row attackers in
Mevelyn Brazoban and
Andrea Zaric.
3.Home Cooking
This year will be the first time the Lakers have opened the season at home since 2009. Mercyhurst hosted an invitational that year where they won three of their four matches. The Lakers broke in Owen McCormick Court last year with a 5-6 record at home and are looking to start season two at the newly renovated MAC with three big non-conference wins.
4.Long Time, No See
The Lakers lid lifter against Grand Valley State will serve as the first time the two teams have met since 2007. GVSU leads the all-time series 3-0. Saturday's contest against Malone will be the third meeting between the Lakers and Pioneers all time, and the most recent since 2017. Notre Dame College is the most familiar of the Lakers three opening weekend foes. Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 8-2 and has never lost at home against the Falcons.
5.Flash Forward
The Lakers are starting with three non-conference matchups this weekend and will play six more before opening conference play on September 13 at Clarion. Over the last two seasons the team has a 12-10 record in non-conference play. The Lakers will finish the last 16 matches of the season against PSAC West opponents.
