SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team earned a three-set Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory over Mercyhurst University Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
Saturday's contest was never in doubt as The Rock took the opening set, 25-11, followed by 25-21 and 25-18 wins over the second and third sets for what was SRU's third sweep in its last four matches.
 
With the win Slippery Rock exits the weekend with an overall record of 7-11 and a PSAC West mark of 3-3 while the Lakers drop to 2-13 overall and 0-6 in conference matches. The win gives SRU its best six-game start to its conference schedule since going 5-1 in 2014.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock bested the Lakers in kills (40-29), attack percentage (.283-.082), aces (6-4), digs (54-44) and total blocks (5-1).
 
The Rock outside hitter duo of Abigail Koeller and Erica Selfridge paced SRU in the victory by combining for 24 kills as Koeller posted a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs, while Selfridge finished with 11 kills on an impeccable .647 attack percentage to go with two blocks.
 
Mary Berger and Alayna Chizmar had seven and five kills, respectively, as well to round out The Rock's top attackers. Jaeden Yost guided the offense with 19 assists.
 
Chelsie Wheeler registered three blocks with Abigail Nigon adding a pair as well to up her team season-high total to 56. In addition to serving a team-high two aces, Kate Lachendro also concluded the day with a match-best 18 digs.
 
SRU held a comfortable 14-8 lead in the first set before going on a decisive 6-0 run that for all intents and purposes put the opener away in an eventual 25-11 victory.
 
The Rock trailed the Lakers early in the second set, but with the score 9-6, SRU proceeded to rattle off seven consecutive points to push ahead of Mercyhurst with a four-point lead it never relinquished in the 25-21 win.
 
Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst would play to a 15-15 tie in the third set before The Rock once again produced a clutch run in which it captured the next four points thanks in part to a pair of kills by Selfridge. SRU went on to close out the victory by registering six of the set's final nine points for a 25-18 win.
 
SRU is now 2-1 in home matches this season. The two victories already represent The Rock's highest home victory total for a season since going 6-4 at Morrow Field House in 2018.
 
Kylie Schnars had eight kills in the loss for Mercyhurst.
 
Slippery Rock returns to the road for a 7 p.m. Oct. 4 match at California.




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