14 THE Seahawk/Dctdber 3, 2DDD Women’s volleyball comes up short against Mercer - - 1 ~ r\ 1 rt lit ^ ^ ^ 1 > ■ _ Ben DeFoe Staff Writer The UNC Wilmington volleyball team showed outstanding efifort in a long fou^t match against Mercer University last Satur day, losing in five games to the Bears. The Seahawks displayed positive energy with great poise, but were unable to squeak out a victory. UNCW came into the gym with great intensity and confidetice showing that they knew they could win this match. The Seahaw ks had something to play for because a special crowd was in the audience. The families of these proud wottKn attended the match. As each member of the team was announced, the players fwesented carnations to their parents. Mercer started out strong in the first game e\’en though both teams looked as though they were lacking communication. UNCW in the beginning of the game kxiked like they needed some help getting their saves iq). The Seahawks would improve cm this through out the entire match. Mercer had trouble early on getting their kills across because Angela Bodner. Emily Steele, and Heather White buih a wall across the net. The score was 8-6 and UNCW looked like they were cruising when Mercer scored six unanswered points, two of them were aces hit by server Amy Schreiber. who led both teams with nine ser\ice aces. Mer cer won the first game 15-10 regardless to sk)ppy play. The second game started out wliere the first game left off. Both teams were not play ing up to potential. Mercer's serves were penetrating fee zcme of the Seahaw ks as they looked to be too sfwead out MenEer was making plenty of mistakes as well as U’NCW and it show ed Ml their coach’s face. Mercer coach ADen Edwmls w^ vay vocal towards his players as they did capitalize on the mis takes made by UNCW. This game went back and fcHlh. as the kmgest volley of the game took place when it was 8-7 in favor of UNCW. The game was much closer and well played, but UNCWr'still couW IK* break a Janas FUt The Seahn* Holly Abbhul (#15) and Bailey Lee go up for the block against Mer cer on Saturday. The Seahawks fell in five games to the Bears. 10 pcMts as Mercer w ent on to win 15-10. UNCW regrouped at halfdme because they knew that they had to win the next game OTthe match would be over. The third game still looked as though UNCW had not changed anything because they came out with a slow start. UNCW finally started to pull it together thanks to the help of Eiin Fowler and Hdly Abbuhl. Abbuhl would set the boll up and Fowler w ould knock them dowu 'The sets were awesome.. .1 feh re ally good about the sets,” said junior outside hitter Fowler. Abbuhl led both teams with 59 assists. UNCW revamped itself and won game three. 15-11. UNCW a^^jeared to be turning die mo mentum in their favc*-. and were mounting a huge comeback. The Seahaw ks jumped out to an eariy lead in game four erf 8-5 but be gan to slip. Mercer came back and tied the game at 10 all. Even though UNCW was having some problems keepang the ball in play, they received some big help &om TENNIS, FROM PAGE 13 (rffiom Coastal Carolina with an 8-4 victory in Flight One. The Seahawks also saw five mc*c doubles victories on Friday with domi nating scores including a shutout by the doubles teams of Bow ies and McRae and Phe^andPeny. Overall, both coaches were happy with their teams {^y and were happy to see sodc of the strides the teams made, especially in douMes. “In these fall tournaments we’re realty kxiking at our doubles combinatioDS to try to get them set for the main season in the spring.” said Men's Head Coach AHen FarfbuL “I think for the fall season we’re wiieie we need to be peifcmiance wise,” said Josh Francesdiiiia. “ I think a kx of good things came out of this weekend, I saw vast improvements, we're attempting the right shot, but not al ways making them, but I believe that in the spring we’ll not only be attempting them, but making them.” said women’s head coach Jenny Ganity. ‘1 think everyone did a good job in competing in their matches,” said Garrity. Speaking on what can be taken from this early tournament. Senior Stephanie Phelps said,” I think it took us a while to get into a groove, but I ihink we took mental tou^ ness fiotn this toumamenL” The teams wiD continue to compete all season, with the next match for the women's team coming in three weeks at the Charles ton Southem Invitatiooal, Oct 13-14. The men's team heads to Raleigh Oct 13-15 to piay in the N.C. State Invitatiooal. Bodner with some key blocks. The Seahawks did not look back after the score was tied, winning the game 15-10. It was all tied up at two games apiece heading into the last and final game. Volley ball mles stale in the fifth game every point counts. This last game was a nail-biter, as both teams went back and forth until it was all tied up at 14. The next two points would decide the winner, and they belonged to Mercer as they defeated UNCW in five games. Coach China Jude had only positive things to say about her team even though they lost “I am very proud and impressed with my team. Their consistency in the last two games was great and I have a new found re spect for them because they bounccd back from a two game deficit.” The volleyball team heads to East Caro lina University for an Oct. 2 matchup. “The team is so pumped up about ECU b^use it is a big rival and we don’t want to lose,” se nior setter Holly Abbuhl said. Volleyball falls to JMU Dan Guy Abst. News Editor UNC Wilmington’s volleyball team began conference play against James Madison (14-3) Friday night at Hanover HaU, in front of 179 loud fans. UNCW (2-12) was defeated in straight games, 15-10, 15-6, 15-6. HoUy Abbuhl had 10 digs, and Bailey Lee led the Seahawks with eight kills. As a team, JMU hit .346 for the match, while UNCW marked .089. “I thought we stayed really intense, we went out there focused, and we came out really strong,” said Angela Bodner. “We kind of let down a little bit, but we never gave up.” The Seahawks opened game one ex cited and confident on a 4-0 run. JMU then went on a 9-1 run to take a 9-5 lead. UNCW battled back to tie the game at 10-10 before JMU went on a 5-0 run to win the game. “We really jumped out on them, and grabbed the first three points,” said Head Coach China Jude. “We stayed aggres sive, intense, and that was really a great game. 1 am very, very pleased. We re ally have had a chance to get our heads together over the last couple of days, got mentally prepared, studied the tape, and worked on a brand new defense.” “We put a lot of things together, our offense worked, our defense was going crazy, it felt good, we played good,” said Holly Abbuhl. “[James Madison] nor mally ranks one or two in the conference, they’re probably one of our biggest chal lenges. It’s kind of a tough start, but it’s a great way to open it up. If we played JMU like we did today, that says a lot about how we’re going to play at ECU, Rock -I- Bowl MU/fC, fOOD, /MACK/, BEEA/ & Bovlihg Every Monday night from 9 p.m. till mi(inight bowl all you want for $8.00. Bring in this coupon for a free pair of rental ^ shoes, limit one per player per visit. Cardinal Lanes 3907 Shipyard Blvd 799-3023