Volleyball Slumps at Mercyhurst Friday

The Central Connecticut volleyball team lost its opening match of the weekend in Northeast Conference action at Mercyhurst on Friday in Erie, PA. The Blue Devils fell, 3-1, in the first meeting between the programs.

The Blue Devils and Lakers square off again on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score:  CCSU 1, MERCYHURST 3 (25-22, 23-25, 25-12, 25-14)
Records: CCSU (2-17, 0-7 NEC), HURST (3-14, 2-5 NEC)
Location: Mercyhurst Athletic Center | Erie, PA

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils took a 5-3 lead in the opening set after an Olivia Keckler ace. That would match CCSU's largest lead of the frame. The frame was tied at 11-all before the Lakers would edge ahead by four points. CCSU would claw back within a point after a kill by Keckler made it 19-18, but Mercyhurst would call timeout and go on to take the opening set.
• Mercyhurst opened the second set by taking a 5-1 lead and would lead throughout much of the frame. Trailing 18-14, CCSU would call timeout before a kill by Weronika Poczynek sparked a 4-2 spurt. A kill by Lauren Milani would make it 21-18 and force a Lakers timeout. Isabella Bratzke would serve an ace to make it 23-21 and begin a run of five straight points to close the set and even the match.
• A kill by Bratzke put CCSU ahead 2-1 at the beginning of set three, but a run of three straight aces by Mercyhurst made it 11-5. After a kill by Poczynek made it 15-10, the Lakers would close the set with a 10-2 run and go ahead 2-1 in the match.
• Mercyhurst scored the first five points of the fourth set and would build a 10-1 lead to open the frame. CCSU would get back-to-back points on a kill by Milani and a block by Keckler to make it 15-7, but the Blue Devils were unable to close the margin further.

NUMBER TO KNOW

66 – The Blue Devils collected 66 digs, a season-high for a NEC match this season.

NOTES

• Milani posted her second straight double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. She added one block, an ace and two assists.
• Bratzke collected her second straight double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs.
• Kylee Baranski had 29 assists with eight digs.
• Denomme collected a team-leading 15 digs.
• CCSU and Mercyhurst were meeting for the first time in Northeast Conference play. 

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils and Lakers square off again on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. 

Follow @CCSUBlueDevils on Twitter and CCSUBlueDevils.com for updates.