Ursinus | Virginia Wesleyan | Catholic

STEVENSON, Md. - Stevenson junior Alex Mercer (Eldersburg/Liberty) had 34 kills and 10 total blocks, both team-highs, as the Mustangs edged Ursinus in its home opener before dropping back-to-back decisions to Virginia Wesleyan and Catholic Saturday at Student Union Gymnasium.

After starting the season 4-1, Stevenson (5-4) has now lost three of its last four. A year ago, the team lost just two matches at home all season against St. Mary's (Md.) and Cabrini in the semifinals of the ECAC Division III South Region Championship.

In the opener, Mercer and junior Dani Katsampis (New Windsor/Francis Scott Key) combined for 33 kills and 36 points as the Mustangs edged the Bears (3-4) 25-20, 17-25, 25-23, 19-25, 16-14. Stevenson is 2-0 in five-set games this season and 5-3 since 2006.

Freshman Avery Gabbard (Arnold/Broadneck) added nine kills and 15 digs while sophomore Jen Glock (Westminster/Westminster) added eight kills and five total blocks. Sophomore Amy Rudolph (North East/Rising Sun) totaled 44 assists and 18 digs, both career-highs.

Against Virginia Wesleyan (7-1), the Mustangs hit just .126 as a team in falling in straight sets, 25-17, 25-22, 25-21. Mercer again led the way with seven kills and four total blocks with Gabbard contributing a team-high 15 digs. Sophomore Brooke Gilley (Bel Air/C. Milton Wright) added a season-high six kills and 10 digs, one short of her career-high.

Mercer added nine more kills against Catholic (6-2) while Gabbard led the team in digs for the third-straight game with 11. Gabbard, who has totaled 10 or more digs in six consecutive games and in seven out of nine this season, also had six kills.

Rudolph had 18 assists and 13 digs against the Cardinals and Carney added 12 digs.

Stevenson hosts its first CAC contest of the season on Tuesday against Wesley. Game time is at 7:00 p.m.