Volleyball Falls to C.W. Post in Three Sets
BOXSCORE – Mercy vs. C.W. Post
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 27, 2011) – On Thursday night the Mercy College volleyball team hosted C.W. Post looking to pick up another conference win over the Pioneers, whom they had beaten earlier in the season, 3-2 on Long Island. Nine service and 24 attack errors doomed the Mavericks, however, as they fell in three sets to the Pioneers, dropping their record to 8-21 overall (2-8 in the ECC) while C.W. Post improved to 12-14 (5-6).
The Mavericks got into trouble early on, hitting only .074 and giving away easy points to fall 25-17. They came back out for the second set much more efficient, smacking 15 kills on a .235 hitting percentage and taking a significant lead, but the Pioneers fought back late and came away with the 25-22 win to go up 2-0. Things fell apart in the third set as Mercy posted a -.097 hitting percentage and was beaten soundly, 25-17 to lose the match.
Tonight was not just about the match result, however, as freshman outside hitter Brenna White (Gardnerville, Nev.) smashed her 500th kill of the season midway through the first set, becoming only the ninth Maverick to ever break 500 in a season and the first since 2003.
Sophomore outside hitter Shayla Hixson (Honolulu, Hawaii) and junior middle blocker Lisa Delfs (Canandaigua, N.Y.) paced the Pioneers with seven kills each, while sophomore setter Stephanie Schwarz (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) made 23 assists and sophomore outside hitter Makamae Namahoe (Hilo, Hawaii) led the squad with seven digs.
Despite the sweep, the Mavericks competed well with the Pioneers, including making 5.0 total blocks to the ECC-leaders' 6.0. White, ranked No. 4 overall and tops among freshmen in Division II in kills-per-set, ended the night with 17 kills, raising her average to 4.70 and season total to 512.
Freshman setters McKenna Ronan (Chandler, Ariz.) and Michala Askew (Ringgold, Ga.) combined for 29 asissts while freshman libero Ericka Kane (Glendale, Ariz.) led the squad with eight digs and three service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Nicolette Gebhardt (Middletown, N.Y.) and senior right-side hitter Crasheena Ward (Danbury, Conn.) tied for the match lead with 1.5 total blocks each.
Head Coach Alan Clements and the Mavericks will play their final tri-match of the season on Saturday in Wilmington, Del., where they will face Dominican University (15-13) at 2:00 p.m. and Goldey-Beacom College (12-14) at 4:00 p.m.
