Volleyball Heads to Florida for Regular Season Finale
Andy Stabell
11/12/2009 8:04:30 PM
MACON, Ga. – After besting Atlantic Sun foes Stetson and FGCU last weekend, the Mercer volleyball team is set to wrap up its regular season schedule on the road with contests against UNF (Nov. 13) and Jacksonville (Nov. 14). The Bears will meet the Lady Ospreys at 7 p.m. and challenge the Dolphins at 5 p.m.
Mercer takes a season-high four-match win streak into Friday night’s meeting with UNF. Friday’s matchup marks the second meeting between the schools this season. On Oct. 3, Mercer swept UNF in Macon.
The Lady Ospreys are currently enduring a five-match losing streak and are 10-18 (4-14 A-Sun). Despite their recent struggles, UNF ranks among the top three A-Sun teams in kills per set, assists per set and service aces. The Lady Ospreys are third both assists per set (11.89) and kills per set (12.74) and are second in the league with 1.67 service aces per set.
UNF’s offensive success can be attributed to junior Kaley Read, who ranks second among conference players in kills per set (3.80). On Oct. 3, Read pounded out 12 kills with just five errors and contributed seven digs in the losing effort.
On Friday night, Mercer aims to take its third straight victory over UNF dating back to last season. UNF leads the all-time series between the schools, 8-3.
Jacksonville is 17-8 (13-5 A-Sun) after recently falling at ETSU 3-2 on Nov. 7. The Dolphins will welcome Mercer after facing Kennesaw State on Friday night.
One trademark of Shaun Kupferberg’s Jacksonville teams is solid defense. The Dolphins top the league in opponents hitting percentage, allowing foes to hit just .141. In 2009, senior middle blocker Nicki Kent has averaged a league-best 1.17 blocks per set.
On Oct. 2, Jacksonville handed Mercer a three-set loss. In the previous meeting, the Dolphins held Mercer to a .040 hitting percentage, forcing the Bears into 20 attacking errors on 101 swings.
The Dolphins have taken 19 wins in 22 all-time meetings with the Bears.