Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Canton, Oh. - Mercyhurst Lakers Volleyball team traveled to Canton, Ohio for a weekend tournament. Friday's action included games against Malone and Frostburg State. The Lakers dropped game one to Malone in four sets (3-1) but bounced back for their first win of the season over Frostburg State in five sets (3-2).  

How It Happened 

In game one the Lakers faced Malone. The got started and Kaitlin Murphy with a perfectly placed kill to bring the Lakers to within one early in the first set. The Lakers kept it close early with two kills by Brielle Sterns and a kill by Kaitlin Murphy. Mevelyn Brazoban was able to use some finesse to find an opening and bring the score to 21-18 but still in favor of Malone. Kaitlin Murphy once again finds the smallest of openings for the kill, followed by a Kate Hennessy kill. The Laker hung on, but Malone took the first set 25-20.  

Early in set two a kill by Andrea Zaric ties it up at 7, back-to-back service aces by Kate Hennessy gives the lakers the lead. After some back and forth, a kill by Brielle Sterns and Kate Hennessy even the set back up at 18. Malone would pull away and they took the second set 25-20 

The Lakers found themselves down by eight points, 23-15 late in the third set and climbed back into the set. The Lakers rattled off nine straight points to take a 24-23 lead. Brielle Sterns and Alexa Mitchell went back and forth between kills and service aces to help climb back. Kate Hennessy found an opening and tied it up at 23. It was tied 25-25, and Brielle Sterns found an opening for the kill, followed by Corinne Bechtold doing the same thing and finishing the set with a 27-25 win.  

The Lakers got an early lead in the fourth set on a kill by Kaitlyn Murphy, but Malone hung around for long enough to take the lead 13-12. The Lakers got the lead back on a service error by Malone, and a kill from Mevelyn Brazoban. Malone had the lead 20-16 late in the set, but the Lakers stayed tough and fought back to make it 20-19. A kill by Andrea Zaric got that run started, followed by errors on Malone. Malone yet again found themselves up four and on the brink of closing out the match, but the Lakers did it again and fought back. The Lakers scored five straight points, capped off by a Brielle Sterns kill and gave the Lakers a 25-24 lead. Malone scored three straight points and won set four and the match. 

In game two the Lakers faced Frostburg State. Andrea Zaric got the scoring started right away with a kill, and it was followed with back-to-back aces by Kate Hennessy. The Lakers got out to an early 7-1 lead. After a little bit of back and forth, Erin Wall found an opening for a service ace to give the Lakers a 19-9 lead. The Lakers were able to close out the first set with a win 25-11.  

Early in set two, Kate Hennessy added a kill to tie the set at five. Frostburg State was able to pull away and didn't allow the Lakers to amount much of a comeback and took set two 25-11.  

Set three was back and forth all the way till the end. Kate Hennessy, Brielle Sterns, and Andrea Zaric highlighted a lot of scoring in the third set. It came down to the very end, but Frostburg State was able to put a few points together to win set three 25-21.  

Alexa Mitchell began set four with a service ace. Kate Hennessy added a service ace of her own to extend the Laker lead to 5-1. Andrea Zaric put an end to a Frostburg State run with a kill making the score 9-7. It became a back-and-forth affair for the rest of the set. Coming down stretch, Andrea Zaric had back-to-back service aces that forced Frostburg State to take a timeout. Right out of the timeout Zaric ripped yet another service ace, giving the Lakers a 21-15 lead. The Lakers were able to hold the lead and win set four to force a set five.  

The Lakers went down 4-3 right way, but a service ace by Madalynn Ward tied it up, and the Lakers never looked back. They were able to capitalize on some mistakes from Frostburg State, and take set five by a score of 15-13, giving the Lakers their first win of the season.  

Highlights 

Brielle Sterns finished with 15 kills, and Kate Hennessy was right behind her with 13. Kaitlin Murphy finished with six blocks. Alexa Mitchell finished with 32 assists, and Paige Miller finished with 23 digs. 

Next Up 

The Lakers will stay in Ohio and play a double header tomorrow September 9 against Fairmont State at 11:15 AM, and then Walsh at 1:30 PM.