MACON, Ga. – In another intense five-set showdown, the Presbyterian College volleyball team (3-7) came up just short against the Mercer Bears (9-1), falling 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 8-25, 25-20, 14-16).
 
COACH BENSON'S THOUGHTS
"Tough loss against a good Mercer team. Proud of how we bounced back from a bad set to make it go into fifth set. We are fighting in every match and showing growth in all areas of the game."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST SET
Behind a well-rounded offensive and defensive effort, the Blue Hose surged to an early 5-1 lead, powered by a kill from Brittney Daphnis, blocks from Anna Baranski, Julia Yurkovich, Courtney Williams, and Daphnis, as well as a service ace from Hannah Rowe. Kills from Elyse Hutchinson and Yurkovich continued to widen the gap, stretching Presbyterian's lead to 10-5.
 
The teams traded points as the set progressed, with a timely assisted block by Baranski and Daphnis, followed by a kill from Rowe, keeping the score at 13-8. However, Mercer responded, scoring five of the next eight points to cut PC's lead to 16-13.
 
Both sides exchanged blows, with Rowe and Yurkovich contributing crucial kills, as the Blue Hose maintained a narrow edge at 20-17. A pair of Mercer errors, a kill from Yurkovich, and another service ace from Rowe brought Presbyterian to set point at 24-17. Despite two late points from the Bears, a Mercer attack error handed the Blue Hose the first set, 25-19.
 
SECOND SET
Building off the momentum from the previous set, Presbyterian claimed the first three points, sparked by a block from Daphnis and Rowe, followed by a kill from Daphnis. Kills from Williams, Yurkovich, and Rowe highlighted a back-and-forth exchange between the teams, bringing the score to 7-5. Despite additional kills from Rowe and Williams, Mercer responded by taking five of the next seven points, edging ahead 10-9.
 
The back-and-forth continued, with three tied scores bringing the contest to 13-12 in Mercer's favor. Hutchinson and Baranski delivered key kills to briefly return the lead to the Blue Hose, but Mercer quickly regained control with three consecutive points, pushing them ahead 16-14. A kill from Williams helped Presbyterian cut the deficit to 18-17, but Mercer capitalized on the next three points to extend their lead to 21-17.
 
Refusing to back down, the Blue Hose clawed back by scoring four of the next five points, fueled by kills from Williams and Hutchinson, narrowing the gap to 22-21. Despite their determined late-set push, Mercer held on to secure the second set, 25-21.
 
THIRD SET
Mercer raced out to a quick 3-0 lead before Presbyterian responded by taking the next two points. Kills from Williams and Yurkovich kept the Blue Hose in the mix, but the Bears extended their lead to 9-4. Mercer continued their momentum, winning three of the next four points before Baranski answered with a kill. Despite another timely kill from Baranski that interrupted a dominant nine-point run by Mercer, the score swelled to 21-7. A block assist from Smith and Rowe provided a brief highlight, but Mercer closed out the set, 25-8.
 
FOURTH SET
Mercer grabbed an early 3-1 lead in the fourth set, but Presbyterian responded with a dominant rally, claiming eight of the next 10 points. Led by three kills from Yurkovich, alongside one each from Hutchinson and Williams, plus a block from Baranski and Hutchinson, the Blue Hose surged ahead to a 9-4 lead. Despite a Mercer kill, PC extended their advantage with more firepower, including kills from Rowe, Hutchinson, and Baranski, making it 12-5.
 
The Bears fought back, taking the next three points before an exchange of scores, highlighted by two kills from Rowe and another from Williams, brought the tally to 16-11. Mercer gained momentum, winning four of the next five points to trim the Blue Hose's lead to 17-15. The teams traded points, bringing the score to 19-17, before Mercer closed the gap to a single point.
 
Presbyterian responded late in the set with key kills from Rowe and Williams, extending the lead to 22-18. Although Mercer managed to grab two more points, a kill from Williams sealed the set at 25-20, forcing a deciding fifth set.
 
FIFTH SET
The Blue Hose came out strong in the final set, jumping to a 4-1 lead thanks to a big-time block from Williams and Hutchinson. Though Mercer responded with a kill to cut it to a one-point game, a Yurkovich kill and another block from Baranski and Hutchinson extended PC's lead to 6-2. After the Bears scored again, Yurkovich delivered another kill, followed by an assisted block from Rowe and Hutchinson, giving Presbyterian a comfortable 9-3 advantage.
 
A brief exchange of points brought the score to 11-5 before Mercer launched a seven-point run, storming ahead to take a 12-11 lead. Williams ended the Bears' surge with a kill, but Mercer still managed to reach match point at 14-12. Refusing to back down, the Blue Hose fought back, with Celimar Hoyos delivering a clutch service ace to tie the score at 14-14. However, Mercer ultimately prevailed, closing out the match 16-14.
 
NOTABLES
- Baranski and Rowe earned All-Tournament honors for their performance's at the MU Invitational.
- Williams totaled 12 kills at a .273 hitting percentage while adding three blocks.
- Rowe finished with 12 kills, three blocks, a pair of service aces, and eight digs.
- Yurkovich added 11 kills while hitting at .308 percent.
- Baranski recorded 33 assists, 14 digs, four blocks, and five kills.
 
MU INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP – Brooke Philips (Mercer)
Skye Ekes (Mercer)
Anna Baranski (Presbyterian)
Hannah Rowe (Presbyteiran)
Sydney Love (Elon)
Cameron Lanier (Elon)
 
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will stay on the road for a mid-week match against the Furman Paladins on Wednesday, September 18 at 6:00 p.m.