Mercer Returns Home to Host Western Carolina, UNCG

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer volleyball team (8-15, 2-8 Southern Conference) continues its conference schedule with two home matches against Western Carolina and UNCG this weekend. Mercer's first match will be at 6 p.m. Friday against Western Carolina, followed by another match at 3 p.m. Saturday against UNCG.

FRIDAY VS. WESTERN CAROLINA
Date/Time: Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Follow Along: mercerbears.com/livestats
Twitter Updates: @MercerBearsVB
Watch Live: mercerbears.com/watch

SATURDAY VS. UNCG
Date/Time: Oct. 28 at 3 p.m.
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Follow Along: mercerbears.com/livestats
Twitter Updates: @MercerBearsVB
ESPN3: mercerbears.com/watch

SERIES HISTORY | LAST MEETING
Mercer trails UNCG, 6-3, in their all-time series. The last time the Bears and Spartans squared off, Mercer dropped a 3-1 match in Greensboro, N.C. on Sept. 29. The Bears trail Western Carolina, 14-7, in their all-time series. Mercer notched one of its two SoCon wins against the Catamounts on Sept. 30, sweeping them, 3-0.

NOTABLES

Mercer ranks second in the SoCon in hitting percentage (.213), with Paige Alsten leading the Bears (.340).
Claire Waliczek leads the Bears in assists (9.52), ranking fourth in the SoCon.
Emily Krogman ranks second in the SoCon for service aces (34).
Freshmen, Maddie Nunley and Sarah Stewart helped spark the 3-0 win for the Bears on Wednesday against Savannah State, notching career-highs of seven kills (Stewart) and 36 assists (Nunley).

SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA
Western Carolina is coming off a 3-2 win against ETSU on Oct. 22 at home. The Catamounts earned career-highs from three players including, Gabby Gray (21 kills, 17 digs), Jo-Leigh VerVelde (53 assists, 24 digs) and Meagan Sanches (33 digs). Katie O'Connor leads the SoCon in hitting percentage (.359) and is also ranked third in total blocks (1.02). The Catamounts will travel to Birmingham, Ala. to face Samford on Oct. 28.

SCOUTING UNCG
UNCG (12-10, 5-5) is coming off a 3-2 win against Chattanooga on Saturday at home. Key players for the Spartans, who also finished with double digits against the Mocs, include Allison Penner (57 assists, 11 digs), Holly Behrends (13 kills, 11 digs) and Emily Keilen (14 kills). Penner currently leads the SoCon averaging 10.39 assists per set. The Spartans will travel to Birmingham, Ala. to face Samford before heading into Bear territory on Saturday.

Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Volleyball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBearsVB (Twitter), MercerUniversityVolleyball (Facebook) and @mercervolleyball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.

Mercer Returns Home to Host Western Carolina, UNCG

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Players Mentioned

Paige Alsten

Emily Krogman

Maddie Nunley

Sarah Stewart

Claire Waliczek

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