Feb. 12, 2008

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's volleyball team avenged a five-game loss to Medaille earlier this year by sweeping the Mavericks in three games Tuesday. The Lakers cruised to a 30-26, 30-24, 30-24 victory for their second straight win.

Mercyhurst has all but erased the memories of a season-opening nine-match losing streak with back-to-back wins, the first time that has happened since the 2005 season. The Lakers picked up the victory over Medaille with a balanced attack that was directed by junior setter David Hatten.

Hatten posted 39 assists - the most for a Laker this year in a three-game match - and added five digs, three blocks and two aces. Four different players had at least eight kills in the match, led by Tim Wagner with 12. Jeff Hartman and Jonathan Gurr added 11 each and Dave Newman finished with eight. The Lakers hit .333 for the match, their second best mark of the year, and were consistent throughout, posting a .345 percentage in game one, .333 in game two, and .323 in game three.

The Lakers set the tone early by jumping out to a 20-10 lead in the opening game. Although Medaille worked its way back into the opening game, Mercyhurst never lost control and won 30-26.

In game two, Mercyhurst took a 10-9 lead on a block by Gurr and Newman and the Lakers never trailed again. Although Medaille stayed within reach for much of the stanza, the Lakers took control on kills from Gurr and Wagner, followed by a Ron Cierniakoski solo block to make the score 24-18. Medaille would not get closer than four points the rest of the way as the Lakers won 30-24.

In game three, Mercyhurst again took the lead for good at 10-9, getting back-to-back kills from Wagner, another solo block from Cierniakoski, and an ace from Hatten to take a 13-9 lead. Medaille was never able to close the deficit to less than two the rest of the way and Mercyhurst put the match away with a 30-24 victory.

Cierniakoski led the team with six blocks, four of which were solo and Hartman had a team-high eight digs. Mercyhurst had seven aces, compared to just two for Medaille, and the Lakers outblocked the Mavericks 12.0-8.0.

Medaille falls to 7-6 on the season as the Lakers improve to 2-9 overall. Mercyhurst takes its winning streak to Muncie, Ind. to face Ball State Saturday at 7:30 p.m.