VB Smith 1040x580 100218
Matt Mead Photography LLC
Ally Smith and the Lady Knights gear up for six consecutive home matches beginning this Friday against California (Pa.)
3
Winner Gannon GAN 17-1, 6-1
0
Mercyhurst MER 8-12, 3-4
Winner
Gannon GAN
17-1, 6-1
3
Final
0
Mercyhurst MER
8-12, 3-4
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Gannon GAN 25 25 25 (3)
Mercyhurst MER 21 10 21 (0)

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California University of Pennsylvania

10/5/2018 | 7:00 PM

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Full Schedule
Oct. 05 (Fri) / 7:00 PM
 California University of Pennsylvania

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Josh Hill, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

No. 23 Gannon Women’s Volleyball Rolls Past Mercyhurst, 3-0, for Sixth Straight Win

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: #23 Gannon 3, Mercyhurst 0
  • Set Scores: 25-21, 25-10, 25-21
  • Records: Gannon (17-1, 6-1 PSAC) | Mercyhurst (8-12, 3-4 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. – Mercyhurst Athletic Center
  • The Short Story: A superb performance that featured 13 kills from freshman Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington), 11 kills from freshman Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) and 10 kills from junior Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) helped propel the 23rd-ranked Gannon Lady Knights volleyball team to an impressive 3-0 sweep in conference play over crosstown opponent Mercyhurst Tuesday night on the road.
 
GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER  
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon began the match with consecutive kills from Sampson and senior Lexi Johnson (Chandler, Ariz./Basha) for a quick 2-0 lead in the first set.
  • The Lady Knights led 9-4 in the first set following a Mercyhurst attack error.
  • The Lady Knights scored three of four points in the first set for a 12-6 lead. Once again Sampson and Johnson led the Gannon offense with three kills between the two players.
  • Smith smacked a kill to give Gannon its largest lead of the set at 16-9.
  • Smith capped the set with a kill from junior Toni Leitshuh (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) as Gannon took set one 25-21.
  • McClung recorded three of Gannon's first four points by kill in the second set.
  • The Lady Knights pulled ahead in the second set with six points in a row for a 13-7 edge.
  • Kill by Sampson and McClung, both set up by sophomore Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland), allowed the Lady Knights to pull ahead 16-9 in the second set.
  • The Lady Knights closed the second set with a 5-1 scoring run for a convincing 25-10 set victory.
  • The Lady Knights took advantage of three attack errors and added a kill from Sampson for a 4-0 lead over the Lakers in the third set.
  • A 3-0 Gannon run put the Lady Knights in front 9-3.
  • Another 3-0 run, highlighted with kills from Johnson and Smith, put Gannon up 17-9 in the third set.
  • Mercyhurst rallied to within two in the third set, forcing a Gannon timeout as the Lady Knights led 19-17.
  • Gannon pulled ahead 23-19 following a Mercyhurst attack error.
  • McClung wrapped up the match with a kill as Gannon took the third set 25-21.
 
GAME NOTES
  • Gannon won its sixth match in a row and picked up it s 13th sweep of the season
  • The Lady Knights are the only team in the PSAC Northwest division with 10 or more wins overall this season.
  • Gannon held a 3-1 edge in service aces.
  • The Lady Knights had a 13-2 scoring run in the second set.
  • Gannon had 41 assists on 43 kills and hit .309 as a team for the match.
  • Mercyhurst hit .112 as a team for the match.
  • Johnson (.500) and Sampson (.400) led the Lady Knights in individual hitting percentages.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Sampson was named the PSAC Northwest Volleyball Athlete of the Week earlier today. She helped propel the Lady Knights to conference wins over Clarion and IUP last week.
  • Gannon freshman have played a large role this season. In addition to Sampson being honored by the conference, McClung was also named the PSAC Northwest Volleyball Athlete of the Week on September 25, marking the second consecutive week a Lady Knight freshman has garnered the league honor.
  • The Lady Knights are 6-1 in conference play this season and 5-1 in road matches.
  • Gannon picked up its 13th sweep of the 2018 season.
  • The Lady Knights extend their advantage to 44-26 in the all-time series with the Lakers.
  • Gannon has hit .300 or better as a team in seven matches this season.
  • Sampson has recorded double-digit kills in four straight matches for the Lady Knights.
  • Junior Lydia Lukomski (Portville, N.Y./Portville Central) had two service aces.
 
UP NEXT
  • Gannon returns home to begin a six-match homestand, beginning this Friday, October 5 against California (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center.
  • Live stats and live video will be available for the 7:00 p.m. conference matchup.
  • The match kicks off the weekend slate of Gannon athletic events for homecoming weekend.
  • Friday will be the 39th all-time meeting between the Lady Knights and Vulcans with the teams splitting their previous meetings 19-19.
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Players Mentioned

Ashley Beyers

#5 Ashley Beyers

S
5' 11"
Sophomore
Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Biology
Lexi Johnson

#17 Lexi Johnson

MB
5' 11"
Senior
Nursing
Toni Leitshuh

#18 Toni Leitshuh

OH
5' 9"
Junior
Biology
Lydia Lukomski

#9 Lydia Lukomski

OH/DS
5' 8"
Junior
Pre-Medicine
Ally Smith

#11 Ally Smith

OH
5' 9"
Junior
Early Childhood Education
Ashley McClung

#4 Ashley McClung

S/RS
6' 1"
Freshman
Environmental Engineering
Lauren Sampson

#8 Lauren Sampson

OH
5' 10"
Freshman
Physical Therapy

Players Mentioned

Ashley Beyers

#5 Ashley Beyers

5' 11"
Sophomore
Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Biology
S
Lexi Johnson

#17 Lexi Johnson

5' 11"
Senior
Nursing
MB
Toni Leitshuh

#18 Toni Leitshuh

5' 9"
Junior
Biology
OH
Lydia Lukomski

#9 Lydia Lukomski

5' 8"
Junior
Pre-Medicine
OH/DS
Ally Smith

#11 Ally Smith

5' 9"
Junior
Early Childhood Education
OH
Ashley McClung

#4 Ashley McClung

6' 1"
Freshman
Environmental Engineering
S/RS
Lauren Sampson

#8 Lauren Sampson

5' 10"
Freshman
Physical Therapy
OH