Bears to Face UNCG, Western Carolina this Weekend

MACON, Ga. – Mercer (9-10, 2-6 SoCon) will travel to North Carolina to face UNCG on Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. and Western Carolina on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m.

Friday's match will be broadcasted on SoCon Digital Network and Sunday's match will be aired on ESPN3.

FRIDAY VS. UNCG (9-11, 3-5 SoCon)
Date/Time: Oct. 19 | 7 p.m.
Location: Greensboro, N.C.
Follow Along: uncgspartans.com
Watch: uncgspartans.com
Twitter Updates: @MercerBearsVB

SUNDAY VS. WESTERN CAROLINA (10-10, 4-5 SoCon)
Date/Time: Oct. 21 | 2 p.m.
Location: Cullowhee, N.C.
Follow Along: catamountsports.com
Watch: catamountsports.com
Twitter Updates: @MercerBearsVB

SERIES HISTORY
The Bears trail UNCG 9-3 in the overall series history, falling 3-2 to the Spartans on Sept. 22 in Mercer's first five-set SoCon battle of the year. Mercer defeated the Catamounts, 3-1, at home earlier this season (Sept. 21). The Bears trail Western Carolina 14-8 in the overall series history.

SCOUTING UNCG
The Spartans rank higher than the Bears in only one SoCon statistical category, ranking third in service aces by registering 1.40 per set; Christina Gregory leads with 21 total. Gregory is also the key to UNCG's defense, ranking fifth in the conference for recording 4.12 digs per set. The Spartans most recently defeated Chattanooga (3-0) and Samford (3-2), both of which the Bears fell to earlier in the year.

SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA
The Catamounts currently ranks third in the SoCon in service aces per set (1.38) and second in digs per set (16.63). Sydney Carlson leads the league with 32 total service aces for the season. Meagan Sanchez, junior libero, leads the Catamount's defense with 4.67 digs per set. Western Carolina defeated UNCG (3-0), Furman (3-1), Wofford (3-1) and Chattanooga (3-1), all opponents that downed the Bears. Western Carolina will compete against The Citadel on Friday before testing the Bears on Sunday. The Catamounts dropped their last contest against the Bulldogs, 3-2.

NOTABLES

Mercer is 1-6 on the road this season; the one win came in straight sets at The Citadel last week.
Mercer ranks higher against Western Carolina in five out of seven statistical categories, including: hitting percentage (.196), opponent hitting percentage (.188), assists (11.61), kills (12.52) and blocks (1.85).
The Bears rank third in the SoCon in opponent hitting percentage, forcing its opponent hit an average of .188 per match. Mercer also ranks third in the league in blocks, recording 1.85 per set.
The Orange and Black are fifth in assists (11.56 per set), kills (12.52 per set) and fourth in service aces (1.3 per set) in the league.
Paige Alsten leads the Bears and ranks fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.309) and kills (3.41).
Paige Alsten ranks fourth in the league in hitting percentage (.312) and fifth in kills per set (3.37).
Alsten recorded her 400th career block and 1,000th career kill last week.
Head coach Derek Schroeder became the second active SoCon coach to reach 100 league wins last week.
Roberta Todd ranks seventh in leading attackers for averaging 3.05 kills per set.
Maddie Nunley leads Mercer in assists (518). She ranks fourth in the league with 10.16 per set.
Emilee Wissmach ranks ninth in the SoCon with 3.30 digs per set.

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

Bears to Face UNCG, Western Carolina this Weekend

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Players Mentioned

Paige Alsten

Maddie Nunley

Roberta Todd

Emilee Wissmach

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