Sunday, October 21
Cullowhee, NC
2 PM
Mercer University
4-611-10; SoCon
3
at
2
Western Carolina
5-611-11; Socon
1
2
3
4
5
F
Mercer
26
25
25
17
15
3
Western Carolina
28
17
21
25
13
2
Team Stats
MER
WCU
Kills
79
48
Errors
24
18
Attempts
174
144
Hitting %
.316
.208
Points
92.0
55.0
Assists
74
43
Aces
5
3
Blocks
8.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
19
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
L/OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Mercer Closes Weekend with Win at Western Carolina
10/21/2018 5:13:00 PM | Volleyball
Mercer outlasts Western Carolina, 3-2
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Mercer (11-10, 4-6 SoCon) earned its third straight road victory over Western Carolina Sunday afternoon. The Bears outlasted the Catamounts, 3-2 (26-28, 25-17, 25-21, 17-25, 15-13), to clinch a 2-0 weekend on the road.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 (26-28) | Brittany Major sparked Mercer's offense with a kill to begin the match. After a quick lead change, Mercer trailed the Catamounts for 28 rallies, before reclaiming the lead (18-17) after a Roberta Todd service ace. The two teams were tied six times before Western Carolina claimed the 28-26 set win.
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Set 2 (25-17) | Todd began set two with a point for the Bears by providing the first kill of the set. A 12-4 run -- led by Paige Alsten and Annie Karle, who both notched three kills apiece -- extended Mercer's lead to 13-5. The Catamounts were unable to pull within five points for the remainder of the match. A Western Carolina service error and a Karle kill solidified the set win.
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Set 3 (25-21) | Set three favored the Catamounts early on as Mercer trailed until Alsten connected for a kill to ignite four consecutive points and a lead change (11-8). The Bears were able to extend their lead to as much as five points, which included four kills for both Alsten and Todd. Karle produced the final set point to win 25-21.
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Set 4 (17-25) | Despite Major recording the first point of the set, the Catamounts jumped out to a 12-5 lead. Western Carolina managed to extend its lead to eight points, four different times (11-19, 12-20, 14-22, 15-23) before Major and Amber Gibson connected for a point each. However, a bad service error would bring the Catamounts the 25-17 set win.
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Set 5 (15-13) | The final set began in Catamount favor, after registering the first two points. Following three ties, Mercer was able to steal the lead with the help of a Karle kill. Western Carolina added three more tie-ups (8-8, 9-9, 13-13) before Todd and Karle connected for a kill each and pushing the Bears to 3-2 match victory.
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NOTABLES
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer will close out its home season with five-straight matches beginning on Friday, Oct. 26 against Wofford at 6 p.m. The Bears will continue the following day challenging Furman on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m.
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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.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 (26-28) | Brittany Major sparked Mercer's offense with a kill to begin the match. After a quick lead change, Mercer trailed the Catamounts for 28 rallies, before reclaiming the lead (18-17) after a Roberta Todd service ace. The two teams were tied six times before Western Carolina claimed the 28-26 set win.
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Set 2 (25-17) | Todd began set two with a point for the Bears by providing the first kill of the set. A 12-4 run -- led by Paige Alsten and Annie Karle, who both notched three kills apiece -- extended Mercer's lead to 13-5. The Catamounts were unable to pull within five points for the remainder of the match. A Western Carolina service error and a Karle kill solidified the set win.
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Set 3 (25-21) | Set three favored the Catamounts early on as Mercer trailed until Alsten connected for a kill to ignite four consecutive points and a lead change (11-8). The Bears were able to extend their lead to as much as five points, which included four kills for both Alsten and Todd. Karle produced the final set point to win 25-21.
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Set 4 (17-25) | Despite Major recording the first point of the set, the Catamounts jumped out to a 12-5 lead. Western Carolina managed to extend its lead to eight points, four different times (11-19, 12-20, 14-22, 15-23) before Major and Amber Gibson connected for a point each. However, a bad service error would bring the Catamounts the 25-17 set win.
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Set 5 (15-13) | The final set began in Catamount favor, after registering the first two points. Following three ties, Mercer was able to steal the lead with the help of a Karle kill. Western Carolina added three more tie-ups (8-8, 9-9, 13-13) before Todd and Karle connected for a kill each and pushing the Bears to 3-2 match victory.
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NOTABLES
- Mercer recorded 79 kills to Western Carolina's 48 including a higher attack percentage at .316. The Bears also recorded nine service aces while the Spartans connected for only three.
- The Black and Orange registered 63 digs to the Catamount's 50 digs. Mercer rang in 14 total blocks to Western Carolina's eight.
- Annie Karle recorded a career-high 20 kills, connecting on 38 attacks and only three errors, averaging a .447 attack percentage.
- Paige Alsten registered a season-high 20 kills. The senior connected on 34 attacks and only two errors averaging a .529 attack percentage. Alsten also added four block assists.
- Roberta Todd notched double-digit kills for her fourth match in a row, totaling a second team-high 19. The sophomore also added two service aces and assists, 13 digs and one block.
- Brittany Major added 13 kills for the Bears, as well as four block assists.
- Maddie Nunley notched a new career-high 66 assists. The sophomore also recorded her 1,000th assist during the third set of the match. Nunley connected on five kills, six digs and two blocks.
- Megan Smith (14) and Amber Gibson (12) reached double-digit kills, totaling 26 for the match.
RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 11-10, 4-6 SoCon
- Western Carolina: 11-11, 5-6 SoCon
Mercer will close out its home season with five-straight matches beginning on Friday, Oct. 26 against Wofford at 6 p.m. The Bears will continue the following day challenging Furman on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m.
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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.
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