Mercer University
UNC Greensboro
Volleyball Takes Winning Streak on the Road
11/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer volleyball team will go for its fifth-straight win as it opens a weekend of road Southern Conference play at UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m. on Friday night. The Bears are also in action on Saturday afternoon against Furman at 4 p.m.
Mercer (10-16, 5-7 SoCon) has won five of its last six matches, including three-straight road wins. With four regular season matches remaining, the Bears are just two matches back of third place in the conference standings.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
UNC Greensboro has won four of its last five matches and holds a 16-10 (8-5 SoCon) record entering this weekend's action. The matchup marks the second meeting between the teams this year, with UNCG having claimed a 3-1 (17-25, 25-20, 25-14, 26-24) victory in Macon on Sept. 27.
The Spartans lead the SoCon in both opponent hitting percentage (.187) and digs per set (16.55). The team's 16.55 digs per set average ranks 34th best among Division I teams, and is bolstered by junior Katherine Santiago's team-leading 4.62 digs per set.
UNC Greensboro is 7-3 in home matches this year, but was swept by Furman in its last home match on Nov. 1.
Mercer and Furman meet for the second time in just over two weeks on Saturday. The Paladins host The Citadel on Friday night and enter the weekend with a 17-6 (10-2 SoCon) record.
Furman has won four-straight matches entering the weekend and will host Senior Day on Saturday. The squad is 6-1 at home this season, with the lone loss coming in five sets to Samford on Oct. 18.
Furman is the SoCon's top offensive unit, boasting league-leading totals in hitting percentage (.254), assists per set (12.63) and kills per set (13.55).
MATCH NOTES
Mercer's four-match winning streak equals the longest such streak in the Damian Elder era. Elder won four-straight matches in his first season on the sidelines in 2012.
Sophomore Tori Penrod vaulted into third place among league players with 0.36 service aces per set after collecting 10 last week.
Junior Molly Locke boasts the second-most total kills among conference players, having collected 335 through 26 matches. The only SoCon player with more is Wofford's Taylor Baird with 352.
