Date Posted: 9/11/2007

MACON, Ga. – With almost twice as many errors as its opponent, the Mercer volleyball squad was swept 3-0 (30-26, 30-25, 30-23) by Georgia State Tuesday night at the University Center. The Bears were out-hit by the Panthers, .286 to .136, in the match.

“The difference in us winning and losing is the amount of errors in the match. Our game plan was spot-on but we just didn’t execute it error-free,” said head coach Noelle Hughes. “We just need to find our nitch and the confidence to finish games.”

Mercer (2-7) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in game one but Georgia State (7-5) fought back to quickly even the score at eight apiece. The teams battled back and forth evenly through the majority of the game and with the game knotted at 20 apiece, the Panthers went on the attack and recorded three straight kills to give them a lead they would not relinquish. GSU maintained their lead and took a 30-26 win in game one.

The Bears trailed by five at the 12-7 mark in the second game when an attacking error by the Panthers sparked a 5-0 run for the Bears to tie things at 12 apiece. With the score tied at 16-16, Georgia State used two errors by Mercer and kills by Amy Lusk and Jocelyn Waldern to take a 20-16 lead. The teams battled evenly to the end and the Bears were unable to recover from the run by the Panthers, falling 30-25 in the set.

Mercer and Georgia State traded points evenly at the start of the final game. With the score knotted a 6-6, a kill by Lusk started a 4-0 run by the Panthers to give them a solid lead. Mercer battled back to get within one at the 14-13 mark, but back-to-back errors allowed the Panthers to regain their firm lead. Georgia State took game three, 30-23.

Lusk and Ana Paula Ferreira led the way for the Panthers with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Ferreira also grabbed 13 digs for a double-double and setter Noelle Boyd notched a 45-assist, 10-dig double-double for Georgia State.

Setter Kelly Jansen finished with a double-double for the Bears, dishing out 24 assists and grabbing 10 digs. Senior Julie Darty led Mercer offensively with 11 kills while junior Claire Tucker manned the backrow and recorded a match-high 14 digs. Junior Karen Dorris was just one kill shy of a double-double, recording nine kills and 13 digs.

The Bears return to the court as they participate in the Winthrop Wingate Inn Classic Friday and Saturday in Rock Hill, S.C. Mercer takes on Winthrop, Georgetown and Troy during the two-day event.

Related Links:
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