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11/8/2008 - VOLLEYBALL
Bears Outlast Dolphins in 5-Set Epic
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MACON, Ga. - On a day where four seniors were honored for their outstanding careers in Orange and Black, the seniors gave the fans one more memory as the Bears rallied from behind to claim a 3-2 (18-25, 25-18, 18-25, 30-28, 16-14) win over Jacksonville in Saturday’s Atlantic Sun volleyball Match of the Week held at the University Center.
Senior libero Claire Tucker posted a career high 37 digs in her final regular season match at the University Center. Senior outside hitter Karen Dorris recorded her 12th double-double of the season, and senior Kelly Jansen dished out a team-high 27 assists to lead the Bears to victory.
“I couldn’t be more proud of my team for pulling out this victory on senior day,” Mercer head coach Noelle Rooke said. “We simulate crunch-time situations everyday in practice, and today our seniors stepped up to make it happen.”
Mercer’s victory was paramount considering Jacksonville and Mercer both came into Saturday’s match with mirroring 17-8, (12-5 A-Sun) records. The Bears have posted victories in 13 of their last 15 contests and stand at 18-8, (13-5 A-Sun). Jacksonville falls to 17-9, (12-6 A-Sun). The win marks Mercer’s first win over Jacksonville since the 2004 season.
Mercer now moves into sole possession of fourth place in the Atlantic Sun, and is in prime position to capture one of the top two seeds for the upcoming conference tournament.
“We stressed to our team all week how important this weekend would be,” Rooke said. “To come out of this weekend with two wins puts us in great position as the season comes to a close.”
In the fourth set with the score tied at 28, Jansen fed Dorris on two consecutive kills to help the Bears extend the match to a fifth set.
With the score knotted at 14 in the final set, sophomore Libby Hansch combined on block-assists with freshman Amiee Frutchey and Anna Coursey to lift Mercer to the 16-14 final set win.
Hansch finished with eleven kills and four block-assists.
