ERIE, Pa. — Michela Ayers tied a career-high of 13 kills in a single match as West Virginia Wesleyan volleyball (0-6) dropped a road match to Mercyhurst (4-5) on Friday (Sept. 17) night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center in Erie, Pa. Ayers, a sophomore from Groveport, Ohio, swung at a .292 clip on the night, leading WVWC.
WVWC Leaders
Joelle Lalla added four kills to the Bobcats’ offensive attack. Lexi Tatum and Anaya Hyman each had two kills. Payton Hefner facilitated eight assists and Maddi Carpenter had seven assists. Hefner and Hyman each struck once from the service line. Defensively, Autumn Molenhouse led Wesleyan with eight digs. Hyman totaled one block solo and two block assists.
Mercyhurst Leaders
Beth Brady was the leading offensive player for the Lakers, smashing 12 kills in the match. Brady racked up a game-high 15.5 points. Alexa Mitchell (17) and Isabella McCaffrey (13) both tallied double-digit assist figures. Mercyhurst totaled seven aces with three coming from Brady. Brady led the Lakers in the dig column with seven.
Inside Set One
The Lakers jumped out to a 13-6 lead. Wesleyan scored three consecutive points thanks to a Mercyhurst service error and kills from Hyman and Lalla. A Hyman service ace cut the Laker lead to 16-12. Mercyhurst ignited a 4-0 run and led 20-12 late in the first set. The Lakers would go on to win the first set 25-15.
Inside Set Two
Neither team led by more than three points in the early goings of set two. Carpenter’s second kill of the season made the score 17-16 in favor of Mercyhurst. The Lakers went on an 8-2 run to close out the second set. Set two went to Mercyhurst 25-18.
Inside Set Three
Seven out of Ayers’ 13 kills came in the third set. After two consecutive kills from Ayers, Wesleyan held a 10-6 lead. The Lakers won the next three points to cut the Bobcats’ lead to one point. Ayers’ 11th kill of the evening increased the WVWC lead to 14-11. Mercyhurst tied the set at 17. The Bobcats fought back and tied the set at 21 thanks to a service ace from Hefner. The Lakers were able to close out the set and win set three 25-22.
Up Next
The Bobcats return to the court today (Saturday) for a doubleheader in the PSAC/MEC Crossover. Wesleyan will take on Shepherd in Erie, Pa., at noon and then travel to Edinboro for a match versus the Fighting Scots at 5 p.m.
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