Sept. 7, 2007

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's volleyball team continued to make the most of its home court advantage, sweeping matches against Ohio Valley and Le Moyne Saturday at the Laker Invitational, extending its winning streak to seven overall, and seven inside the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

With a 10-1 mark, the Lakers are off to their best start since the 2005 team opened 11-1, and their seven-match winning streak matches the 7-0 start by the same 2005 squad. During the streak, only one match has lasted more than three games, and only two teams all season (Houghton and W.Va. Wesleyan) have lasted four.

Mercyhurst opened the afternoon by making quick work of Ohio Valley, downing the Fighting Scots 30-17, 30-22, 30-19. Eleven Lakers recorded at least one kill in the match, and the team was led by Junior Lauren Kubinski and freshman Katie Fritz, who totaled nine apiece. Sophomore Julia Butler added 17 assists, and freshman Laura Shaffer recorded a career-high 16.

Le Moyne provided a stiff challenge in the invitational's final match. After Mercyhurst opened with a 30-17 win, the Dolphins opened an early lead and led by as much as 16-10.

Mercyhurst, however, scored 10 of the next 13 points, using three kills from junior Jenna Matson, to retake the lead at 20-19. After trading points, Fritz recorded three kills and Kubinski added two more, as the Lakers closed out a 30-24 victory with a 9-3 run.

Le Moyne jumped out to a quick lead in game three, as well, scoring the first five points. Mercyhurst trailed by as many as five, and did not tie the match until 28-28. Freshman Sarah Harmon then gave Mercyhurst its first lead with her first kill of the match, but Le Moyne and the Lakers traded points until the Dolphins took a 34-33 lead.

Kubinski answered with a kill to retie the game and Fritz followed with her career-high 10th kill, before an attack error on Le Moyne ended the match with Mercyhurst on top, 36-34.

Kubinski finished with a career-high eight total blocks, leading Mercyhurst's team total of 12. Freshman Justine Smith totaled six block assists and senior Christine Nisbet added four. Matson led the team with 15 kills, and Butler matched a season-high with 43 assists.

As a team, the Lakers hit .264, while Le Moyne totaled a hitting percentage of .077.

Mercyhurst returns to action Saturday with matches against Stonehill at 10 a.m. and Tiffin at 2:30 p.m. Both matches will be aired live on the B2 Network. Click here to watch.