MACON, Ga. - The Presbyterian College volleyball team fell behind two
sets to one at Mercer Friday afternoon before rallying behind Amanda Kettles'
career-high 19 kills en route to a 3-2 win (25-20, 20-25, 13-25, 25-20, 15-10).
The Blue Hose improve to 1-0 on the season while the Bears are now 0-6.
Kettles notched a match and career-high 19 kills while committing just one
error on 28 total attempts for a .643 attack percentage. Sophomore Presley
Mabrey slammed home 18 kills, just one off her career mark.
Kilee Ruppe dished out 45 assists while posting a double-double with 17 digs.
Although her 17 digs led PC, Ashley Dunlap (15) and Elizabeth Heineman (12)
also reached double figures. Lisa Shelley was just one kill and one dig away
from tallying a double-double (nine kills, nine digs).
For the game, PC totaled eight blocks, including a career-high six by Andrea
Barman. Mabrey had three block assists while Shelley had two. Kettles, in her
tremendous performance, posted two solo blocks.
In the first set, PC held an early lead, but Aimey Frutchey gave the home team
an 11-9 advantage. Kettles answered quickly off a nice set from Ruppe for the
kill. On the next play, Ruppe decided to go on the offensive attack herself,
dumping a pass over the net to even the score. Trailing 12-11, PC scored four
of the next five points, forcing a time-out by Mercer.
With the score tied at 16, Mabrey and Shelley each posted kills while Shelley
and Barman combined for a block, propelling PC to a 20-16 lead it would not
relinquish. The Blue Hose took the set after the Bears tallied two errors on
the last three plays, sealing the 25-20 victory.
The Bears roared out of the gates in the second frame, taking a 4-0 lead before
Shelley got the visitors on the board off a pass from Rachel Rutan. PC slowly
climbed back into the set, pulling within one on a block by Kettles to make the
score 13-12. Mercer took the next point, but the Blue Hose eventually tied the
set at 19 when Shelley and Barman combined for a block, forcing a time-out. The
Bears scored five of the next six points to take the 25-20 win heading into the
intermission.
In the third set, head coach Chris Belshe's team once again found itself
fighting from behind. Down 10-3, the Blue Hose kept the margin at nine, but
could get no closer the rest of the set, falling 25-13.
Trailing 2-1, PC was up against the wall. The team responded behind the strong
coaching of Belshe and assistant coach Megan Trimpe, taking an 11-7 lead on a
kill by Shelley. Mabrey then sliced the serve through the heart of the defense
to put PC up five. However, Mercer struck for a 9-0 run, forcing the Blue Hose
to use both of their time-outs in the set.
Down 16-12, Haley Thurmond got things going for the Garnet and Blue. With the
score 18-14, Kettles and Mabrey connected on back-to-back kills. Kettles then tied
the game after Shelley's ace.
After a time-out by Mercer, Mabrey powered home a pass from Kettles before
Shelley concocted her second ace in a matter of plays. Mabrey's kill put PC's
run at 5-0 as Belshe's team took a 21-18 lead. Mercer cut it to two, but kills
by Ruppe and Mabrey forced the fifth set.
Coming off a resounding set, the Blue Hose sprinted out of the gates for a 9-3
lead. Dunlap started the set with an ace. With PC up 3-2, Kettles posted two
kills over the next three points for a 5-3 advantage.
Up 13-9, PC closed the cage on the Bears as Kettles blocked Jamie Duffy. Then,
Ruppe took a pass from Dunlap for the final point and the 15-10 win.
The Blue Hose return to action at 5 p.m. today against The Citadel in the
second match of the tournament.
