VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS & INTERVIEWS

THE BASICS
Score: at Gannon 3, Mercyhurst 1
Set scores: (27-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-22)
Records: Gannon (23-2, 16-2 PSAC) / Mercyhurst (16-10, 11-7 PSAC)
Location: Hammermill Center - Erie, Pa.
The Short Story: Securing its 10th consecutive victory, the Gannon women's volleyball team clinched its sixth-straight berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament with a 3-1 win over Western Division rival Mercyhurst Tuesday evening at the Hammermill Center. In the spirit of the rivalry, the Lady Knights also captured the Diocese Trophy up for grabs between the two squads. The Lady Knights clinched the victory by set scores of 27-25, 26-24, 18-25 and 25-22.
 
THE BASICS
- Senior Maggie Desrosiers (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) led the Lady Knights with 12 kills while adding nine digs and two service aces. Junior Lynne Hibbard (West Barnstable, Mass./ Barnstable) also reached double figures with 11 kills along with three block assists.
- Senior Megan Wendel (Aurora, Ohio/Kenston) recorded 36 assists and 14 digs.
- On the defensive side, sophomore Hannah Kren (Waukesha, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) contributed a team-best 20 digs followed by senior Taryn Graham (Huron, Ohio/Huron) with 19 digs.
- In a back-and-forth affair, the match included 27 tied scores and 14 lead changes.
- The Lady Knights compiled an attack percentage of .164 compared to the Lakers' 151. In the final set, the Lady Knights (.324) and Lakers (.273) both recorded their best percentages.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gannon and Mercyhurst required extra points to settle the first two sets. The Lady Knights opened the match with a 27-25 victory over the Lakers. The first set alone included seven tied scores. On a 6-3 run, the Lady Knights capitalized on four Lakers' errors with Desrosiers handing GU a five-point lead, 14-9. The Lakers strung together seven unanswered points to erase the Lady Knights' lead. The Lady Knights recaptured the lead, 20-16, on two Desrosiers' kills and two Laker errors. The two squads later were tied at 24 and 25 before a Laker service error and a kill by freshman Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio / Solon) sealed the 27-25 victory.
- The second set featured nine tied scores and seven lead changes. The Lakers earned a 6-3 lead before the Lady Knights went on a 6-0 run including five points off Mercyhurst errors. The Lakers managed to work their lead to 17-13 while keeping the Lady Knights at bay. Late in the set, the Lady Knights were able to erase the Lakers' advantage with three points to tie the set at 23-23. After exchanging a point each, the Lady Knights' relied on consecutive Laker errors to earn the 26-24 win and a 2-0 match lead.
- The Lakers controlled play early on for most of the third set. Despite building their lead to 11-6, the Lakers watched their edge disappear on a 7-0 Lady Knights' run. With the score knotted at 17-17, the Lady Knights took a one-point lead on a Hibbard kill. The Lakers ended the set on an 8-0 run to earn their first and only win of the day, 25-18.
- Securing a 10-9 lead, the Lady Knights pushed their advantage to 15-9 including two kills by Hibbard. The Lady Knights played with the lead through the rest of the set despite the Lakers coming within two of the home squad late in the set. Although the Lakers pulled within two off back-to-back GU attack errors, the Lady Knights earned the 25-22 with a kill by Ansec.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- In the all-time series with the Lakers, the Lady Knights improved to 38-25.
- The Lady Knights remain second in the PSAC Western Division with a 16-2 mark.
- At the Hammermill Center this season, the Lady Knights hold a 27-1 mark in sets played.
- The annual Diocese Trophy belongs to the Lady Knights following the 3-1 win over the Lakers. Alternating host sites between the two rival-squads, the trophy was on the line in Tuesday's match.  
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Gannon remains at home in the midst of a three-game homestand. The Lady Knights open the weekend slate against Indiana (Pa.) Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. followed by PSAC Western Division leader Clarion Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. Saturday's match will mark Senior Day for the Lady Knights.