WHEELING, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State volleyball team swept the opening day of the MEC/PSAC Challenge at Wheeling's Alma Grace McDonough Center, defeating Slippery Rock 3-0 this afternoon and downing Mercyhurst in the nightcap 3-1.
 
In a straight-set win over The Rock (26-24, 25-18, 25-21), Mackenzie Harrison drove home a team-high 15 kills to go with six digs and two blocks to lead the Falcons. Harrison also tallied four aces. Breanna Blot chipped in nine kills and Rebecca Feeney added seven kills and three blocks.
 
Setter Jessica Furda tallied a team-high 40 assists in the win and libero Megan Clerico tallied 10 digs. Furda and Julia Shemaitis also chipped in defensively, notching six digs apiece.
 
In the second match of the day against Mercyhurst, Harrison led four FSU attackers in double-figures with 20 kills. Harrison just missed a triple-double against MU, also chipping in 10 digs and eight block assists. Blot (12), Shemaitis (11) and Feeney (11) also reached double-digit kills for the Falcons. Feeney joined Harrison with a big day around the net, adding seven blocks assists to her 11 kills in the win over Mercyhurst.
 
FSU was once again paced by Furda with 53 assists to go along with 16 digs defensively. Shemaitis also added 10 digs to her 11 kills to record a double-double.
 
FSU will return to the court on day two of the MEC/PSAC Challenge on Saturday, facing Clarion at 11 a.m. and Seton Hill at 1 p.m.