THE RUNDOWN
Score: Gannon 3, Mercyhurst 2
Set Scores: (25-23, 23-25, 22-25, 30-28, 17-15)
Records: Gannon (13-3, 6-1 PSAC) | Mercyhurst (9-9, 4-3 PSAC)
Location: Erie, Pa. – Hammermill Center
The Short Story: The Gannon women's volleyball team defeated Mercyhurst, 3-2, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference  (PSAC) match Tuesday evening at the Hammermill Center. The Lady Knights came back from being down two sets and forcing a fifth set to win the overall match.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Box Score: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED
Score: Gannon 3, Mercyhurst 2 | (25-23, 23-25, 22-25, 30-28, 17-15)
Records: Gannon (13-3, 6-1 PSAC) | MER (9-9, 4-3 PSAC)

THE BASICS
 

• Gannon took an 8-4 lead with a kill by Jordyn Thiery (Cincinnati,Ohio/McAuley) from Carolyn Knollman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) and extended their lead to 15-10.
• Mercyhurst tied the set at 17 all with a kill by Lexi Stefanov assisted by Kelly Vitt, then tied the set again at 19.
• The Lady Knights closed out the set, 25-23, with a kill from Lynne Hibbard (West Barnstable, Mass./Barnstable), assisted by Knollman.
• The Lady Knights trailed by no more than three points, keeping with the second set close.
• Gannon tied the set at 15 on a block by Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Oho/Solon), forcing Mercyhurst to call a timeout. Gannon took their only lead from a bad set by Kelly Vitt, but the Lakers regained control and went on for the 25-23 win.
• The third set saw seven ties overall, the final tie of the set propelled Mercyhurst to a 4-0 run taking a 20-17 lead.
• The Lakers held on for the third set victory 25-22.
• Gannon took a 5-2 lead in the fourth set, before Mercyhurst responded going on a 4-2 run taking a 9-7 lead.
• The Lady Knights took back the lead 16-13, with a kill by Beka Smith (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili).
• The Lakers and Gannon continued to go back-and-forth for the lead, but with a service error by Mercyhurst and a kill by Ansec Gannon took the fourth set and forced a fifth set.
• The Lady Knights took a 5-3 lead in the fifth set, before Mercyhurst tied the set at five all.
• The two teams again went back-and-forth for the lead of the fifth match, before Mercyhurst took a 12-9 lead.
• Gannon responded scoring three consecutive points and trailed the Lakers 13-12.
• With a block from Maggie Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio/Lake Catholic) and Hibbard the Lady Knights tied the set at 14.
• Gannon closed the fifth set, going on a 3-1 run and the 17-15 set victory and the overall match victory.
• Junior Hannah Kren (Waukesha, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) recorded 16 kills and 13 digs, while Ansec chipped in with 15 digs.
• Senior Morgan Walters (Girard,Ohio/Girard) had a team-high 32 assists and 16 digs.
• Lauren Beck (Chardon, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) recorded a team-high 13 blocks.

QUOTABLES BY COACH DARLING

• "This was a typical Mercyhurst-Gannon match, which is to say that both teams played incredibly hard and battled for every point.  We feel fortunate to get the win in a match that could have gone either way.
•  "Our middles, Lynne and Lauren were excellent and limited only by our inability to pass.  Our blocking bailed us out over and over, and Kelsey and Lisa stepped up when we had to get Hannah some help.  Hannah, of course, was incredible like always."

 
UP NEXT
The Lady Knights return to action on Friday, October 9, as they travel to Edinboro in a PSAC match, first serve is set for 7 p.m.