Box Score Match vs. Mercy: SCSU 3 | Mercy 1
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Sophomores Carly Balskus (Hebron, Conn.), Alexandria Jurgens (Cornwall, N.Y.) and Alexandra Nimz (Littleton, Colo.) led the Owls' attack, each recording a double-double, as the Southern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team edged out non-conference opponent Mercy College on Tuesday evening in an entertaining contest, 3-1. The Owls won by the scores of 25-16, 25-23, 18-25 and 25-22 while improving to 5-16 on the season.Nimz recorded her seventh double-double of the season as she registered 48 assists and 14 digs for the Owls while Jurgens recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs. Balskus also registered her second career double-double with a team and career-high 13 kills and 13 digs. Junior
Faith Ford (New Britain, Conn.) rounded out the Owls' trio of double-digit scorers with 10 kills, an assist and three blocks. Senior
Morgan Carman (Mesa, Ariz.) finished the evening with a team-high 17 digs, a kill, two assists and a service ace.
The first set opened up with both teams trading leads and forcing four ties before an attack error by the Mavericks sparked an Owls' 4-0 run to put the hosts ahead 15-8. Mercy answered back with two quick points, but it wasn't enough as the Owls secured set one 25-16.
Southern Conn. started the second set with a 2-0 lead after back-to-back kills from
Kelly Gunneson (Cheshire, Conn.) until a short spurt gave Mercy its first lead of the frame, 4-2. The Owls managed to put together a 14-7 run to regain their lead, 16-11, before Mercy battled back to within one, 16-15. An Owls' 5-1 run extended their lead to back up to five, 21-16, but the Mavericks came back threatening the Owls' 23-22. Southern Conn. managed to record the final two points to take set two 25-23.
The third set was very similar to the first set as both teams fought for the earlier lead until a kill from Abigail Foti gave the Mavericks the push they needed, extending its lead to four, 18-14, heading into an Owls' timeout. Southern Conn. rallied to within five, 20-15, but Mercy forced a fourth set after claiming the frame 25-18.
For the majority of the frame, both Southern Conn. and Mercy College went throught 17 ties and seven lead changes until a Mercy service error and a Balskus kill gave Southern Conn. a two-point lead, 23-21. Following a Mercy timeout, Southern Conn. closed the match and set, 25-22, after back-to-back kills from Balskus.
The Owls are back in action on Thursday, Oct. 15 as the team resumes Northeast-10 Conference play and welcomes Bentley University to Pelz Gymnasium. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
