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10/31/2008 - VOLLEYBALL
Eagles Host Bears in Match of the Week
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MACON, Ga. - FGCU and Mercer will face off Saturday afternoon inside FGCU'S Alico Arena in the Atlantic Sun Match of the Week. This will mark the second meeting this season between the two schools; Mercer fell to the first-place Eagles in four sets on Sept. 19.
Since that first meeting, the Bears are on fire, winning 10 of their last 11 matches, including their last five. FGCU puts its own streak on the line over the weekend; its incredible 33-match home winning streak. The Eagles have only dropped four sets in two seasons against league foes in 14 league matches. The series between the two schools dates to just 2007 with FGCU holding a 2-0 advantage. This is the first A-Sun Match of the Week of 2008 for Mercer, while it is the Eagles’ fifth appearance. FGCU is 3-1 in feature matches on the season; 3-0 against conference foes.
Mercer is arguably the best defensive team in the A-Sun, holding opponents to a .153 percentage, tops in the league. The Bears also lead the A-Sun in blocks (2.26 per set) and digs (16.71). The Bears boast multiple players who currently rank among the conference leaders in various statistics. Karen Dorris ranks fifth in kills per set (3.45), and senior libero Claire Tucker is second among Atlantic Sun players in digs per set (5.00). Freshman outside hitter Amiee Frutchey is fifth in digs per set (3.50), while sophomore middle hitter Krista Hurley checks in at sixth overall in hitting percentage (.302).
The Eagles boast two players who were honored as preseason All-Atlantic Sun players. Roberta Santos is a 6-1 senior setter who was named a preseason All-Atlantic Sun selection after a 2007 campaign in which she was named to All-Atlantic Sun First Team. Santos has piled up 636 assists (9.64 a/s) on the season and also chipped in 146 kills on just 352 attempts (.327 hitting percentage). Santos has been named Atlantic Sun Player of the Week twice this season and ranks top three among conference players in hitting percentage, assists per set, and service aces per set. FGCU also returns the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year from a season ago. Ana Kokanovic has not disappointed Eagle fans this year, posting a team-high 275 kills (3.67 k/s), while adding 40 service aces and 176 digs (2.35 d/s).
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
