Gia Kovacik dominates as Slippery Rock girls volleyball wins 5-set thriller over Mercer
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — A short break from District 10, Region 4 play did not mean Slippery Rock girls volleyball was without business to take care of to begin the week.
The Rockets opened the season with five straight victories before dropping back-to-back region contests to Harbor Creek and General McLane by a combined score of 6-1 last week.
Monday’s home date with Mercer gave the team a chance to gain confidence before Fort LeBoeuf comes to town Tuesday for a key region clash.
In a seesaw affair, Slippery Rock outlasted the Mustangs in 3-2 by scores of 24-26, 25-20, 25-18, 20-25 and 15-9.
“It’s all about our energy level,” said junior outside hitter Gia Kovacik, who dropped 17 kills on Mercer. “We won the Meadville Tournament over the weekend and needed to win tonight to keep the momentum going.”
The Rockets (6-2) were up in sets 2-1 but were forced into a fifth set when the Mustangs’ late 6-0 run helped them knot the score at 2-2.
Kills from Savannah Smith and Kasey Yeager allowed Slippery Rock to take an early lead in the fifth set, and after moving ahead 3-1 they were never matched on the scoreboard.
“We’ve formed a nice unwritten rivalry with Mercer,” Rockets coach Brandon Ferrier said. “Over the last few years, we’ve taken turns beating each other, and I’m not surprised we got this kind of fight out of them. I expected it.”
The Rockets led the first set 20-17, but three kills from Mercer’s Kamiah Savage and a clutch block from Ainsley Baldwin rallied the Mustangs (5-2) to the win.
That result could have set the tone for the entire match, but Slippery Rock stormed back, opening up a 14-3 edge in the second set. Mercer again tried to rally, but the Rockets’ offense, led by Kovacik’s six kills, was too much. She added seven kills in the following set.
“She’s a heck of a player, putting balls down like she did tonight,” Ferrier said. “She’s a huge part of our offense this year.”
But the Rockets feature a diverse attack and Kovacik had a lot of company in attacking the net.
Smith and Yeager both tallied eight kills. Lexi Caldwell had 30 assists, and libero Lyla Runtas contributed 31 digs, moving her over 700 for her varsity career.
Baldwin totaled 10 kills for Mercer.
Tuesday’s meeting with Fort LeBoeuf begins a stretch of five consecutive region games for the Rockets.
“Sometimes we struggle with keeping our energy level up during a match,” Ferrier said. “When we have it, there’s not many teams that can match us and we’re tough to beat.”
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Slippery Rock's Gia Kovacik (2) spikes a ball against Mercer in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Autumn Christie (16) spikes a ball against Mercer in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Autumn Christie (16) blocks a Mercer attack in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Kasey Yeager (11) blasts a spike past.a Mercer defender in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Kasey Yeager (11) blocks another Mercer ball in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Gia Kovacik (2) spikes a ball against Mercer in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Savannah Smith (21) Spikes the ball against Mercer in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Lexi Caldwell (10) sets the ball against Mercer in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Maddie Carlantonia (12) blocks a Mercer ball in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Autumn Christie (16) spikes the ball between two Mercer defenders in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Lyla Runtas (15) answers the Mercer serve in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Lilly Miller (5) blocks a ball from Mercer in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Gia Kovacik (2) spikes a ball against Mercer in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Lylah Robare (4) dives to save the ball against Mercer in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Lexi Caldwell (10) sets the ball in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Lexi Caldwell (10) sets a ball in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Savannah Smith (21) spikes the ball in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Kasey Yeager (11) blocks a shot as teammate Maddie Cariantonio (12) assists against Mercer in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Lyla Runtas (15) returns a serve in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Lexi Caldwell (10) tries to get the ball alive in a girls volleyball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at Slippery Rock High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
