Box score
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Mercer sophomore
Rachel Urbelis was unstoppable, racking up 30 kills with only six errors as the Bears defeated Campbell 3-2 (25-21, 26-28, 24-26, 33-31, 15-11) in Saturday night’s Atlantic Sun volleyball match at Gore Arena.
Urbelis’ offensive output marked the second-highest single-match kill total in program history. Urbelis finished three kills short of tying Katie Plummer’s all-time record of 33 kills, set Aug. 30, 2002.
“She played out of her mind,” Mercer head coach
Noelle Rooke said, referring to Urbelis. “The girl was putting balls straight down. She led the way tonight, willing our team to a victory.”
Urbelis’ 30 kills came in conjunction with 20 digs, two assists and a pair of blocks as the Geneva, Ill. native posted her sixth double-double performance of the season.
Mercer’s win snaps a three-game losing streak as the Bears move to 7-17 (5-10 A-Sun). Campbell falls to 15-10 (8-6 A-Sun) with the loss.
In the first set, Campbell opened up a set-high, five-point lead at 14-9 before Mercer stormed back with five-straight scores. Later, Campbell threatened to take control again, leading 19-16 before the Bears employed a 9-2 run en route to the first set victory.
The second, third, and fourth set all extended past the traditional 25 point format as each team struggled to gain control.
Campbell edged the Bears in both the second and third sets before Mercer topped the hosts in a marathon, 33-31 fourth set. Leading 32-31 and needing a score to extend the match, Mercer senior setter
Chelsea Gebben fed the hot hand, setting up Urbelis’ 27th kill of the night.
In the fifth set, Urbelis would not be denied, posting a set-high three kills as the visiting Bears clinched the victory.
“We set ourselves up for success in every facet of the game,” Rooke said. “It was the most exciting match that we’ve experienced this season.”
Gebben notched her seventh double-double of the year, tallying 31 assists and 24 digs in the win. Sophomore
Amiee Frutchey smashed 14 kills and added 29 digs for her eighth double-double of the year.
Sophomore
Charlotte Harris recorded a career-high 35 digs in the winning effort.
Mercer returns to action on Oct. 31, hosting USC Upstate. Match time is scheduled for 3 p.m.