MACON, Ga. – The Towson University volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to force a fifth and decisive set but ultimately fell to Mercer College 3-2 on Friday night in the Mercer Tournament. Sophomores Carola Biver and Jocelyn Kuilan, senior Jessica Lewis and freshman Marrisa Wonders all posted double-doubles for the Tigers (10-2).

THE BASICS
Mercer 3, Towson 2 (20-25, 25-17, 17-25, 25-9, 13-15)
Hawkins Arena, Macon, Ga.
Day One of the Mercer Tournament

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set was the most closely contested set of the match as the two squads battled through 12 ties and seven lead changes. Mercer (7-4) trailed 17-16 in the set before using a 9-3 run to claim a 25-20 set win. Morgan Macgilvary had a pair of service aces and a kill during that stretch that decided the set.
• Towson opened up a 10-5 lead in the second set on a kill from redshirt senior Candace Steadman. The Tigers pushed their advantage to 16-10 on a kill from Lewis. A kill from Biver brought the Tigers to within five points of the set win, 20-15. Back-to-back kills from senior Lindsay Flaherty gave Towson a 25-17 set win and evened the match at 1-1.
• A service ace from Emily Krogman opened up a 15-8 lead for the Bears in the third set. Mercer extended its lead to 20-15 on a kill from Heather Swann. A block from the Bears eventually gave Mercer a 25-17 set win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
• Three straight kills from Biver allowed the Tigers to open up a 10-3 lead in the fourth set. Another kill from Biver made it 19-5 in favor of the Tigers. Kills from freshman Emily Russell, Lewis and a pair from  Kuilan secured a 25-9 set win for the Tigers and forced the match to a fifth set.
• The fifth set again saw both teams battle for each point and fight through seven ties and one lead change. Tied at 12-12, Mercer called timeout and responded out of the break. The Bears scored three of the final four points to secure the 15-13 set win and victory in the match.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Tigers were led by Biver who finished with a career-high 19 kills and 13 digs. It was Biver's fourth double-double of the year.
• Lewis contributed 14 kills and 11 digs for her second double-double of the day and fifth of the year. Wonders posted a career-high 37 assists and 11 digs for her sixth double-double of the year.
• Kuilan recorded her first career double-double with 13 kills and a career-high 10 digs.
• Flaherty contributed 10 kills and five blocks.
• Mercer was led by Macgilvary who had 13 kills.

The Tigers wrap up the Mercer Tournament when they face Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 10 a.m.