Friday, September 21
Macon, Ga.
6 PM
Mercer University
8-4,1-0
3
vs
1
Western Carolina
6-7,0-2
1
2
3
4
F
Western Carolina
25
26
23
20
1
Mercer
21
28
25
25
3
Team Stats
WCU
MER
Kills
39
61
Errors
21
31
Attempts
153
171
Hitting %
.118
.175
Points
51.0
75.0
Assists
36
56
Aces
4
3
Blocks
8.0
11.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
L/OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Mercer Extends Win Streak to Six
9/21/2018 9:31:00 PM | Volleyball
Bears stay undefeated at home, 5-0
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Volleyball squad (8-4, 1-0 SoCon) outlasted the Western Carolina Catamounts, 3-1, in the first Southern Conference match of the season. The Bears dropped the first match 21-25 only to fight back to win three-straight sets (28-26, 25-23, 25-20).
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 (21-25) | Set one began in Western Carolina fashion after the Catamounts jumped out to an early 5-3 lead. Paige Alsten recorded a kill to spark a 6-2 run, pulling ahead 9-7. Mercer kept the lead for 18 points until the Catamounts took control after two consecutive Mercer errors. Annie Karle and Brittney Major added back-to-back kills to regain the lead 19-18. Western Carolina once again tied the set at 19 apiece following a Mercer set error. After two more tie-ups the Catamounts officially took the front end at 25-21, ending the set on a 4-0 run.
Â
Set 2 (28-26) | The next set went in Mercer's favor, despite trailing 7-2 to start the second set. The Bears jumped back with a 7-3 run, cutting the Catamount lead to 10-9. After three consecutive Catamount points, Brittney Major attacked with full throttle, sparking a 7-0 run with three personal kills, taking the lead 16-13. Mercer battled for the lead, recording six tie-ups before the Bears outlasted the Catamounts with one kill a piece from Paige Alsten and Alexia Morey to win the set 28-26.
Â
Set 3 (25-23) | Mercer began set three in a 7-4 hole. However Alsten knocked in a kill to spark five unanswered points, allowing the Bears to take the first lead of the set. The Catamounts trailed the remainder of the match, despite three tie-ups (11-11, 20-20 and 21- 21). Mercer's Major would finish the set off with three kills out of the four final Mercer points.Â
Â
Set 4 (25-20) | Even though Western Carolina registered the first point, it would be the Bears who came out hot to start the set, leading 6-3. Another mid-match 5-0 run, which included a pair of Megan Smith aces, would extend Mercer's lead 14-8. Despite a 3-0 Catamount run, Western Carolina was unable to pull within four points of the Bears. The final match-point was awarded to Alsten with her eighteenth kill of the night.
Â
NOTABLES
RECORDS UPDATE
NEXT MATCH
Mercer will hosts its second conference match-up against UNCG tomorrow, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. The match will be played in Hawkins Arena. Â
Â
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.
Â
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 (21-25) | Set one began in Western Carolina fashion after the Catamounts jumped out to an early 5-3 lead. Paige Alsten recorded a kill to spark a 6-2 run, pulling ahead 9-7. Mercer kept the lead for 18 points until the Catamounts took control after two consecutive Mercer errors. Annie Karle and Brittney Major added back-to-back kills to regain the lead 19-18. Western Carolina once again tied the set at 19 apiece following a Mercer set error. After two more tie-ups the Catamounts officially took the front end at 25-21, ending the set on a 4-0 run.
Â
Set 2 (28-26) | The next set went in Mercer's favor, despite trailing 7-2 to start the second set. The Bears jumped back with a 7-3 run, cutting the Catamount lead to 10-9. After three consecutive Catamount points, Brittney Major attacked with full throttle, sparking a 7-0 run with three personal kills, taking the lead 16-13. Mercer battled for the lead, recording six tie-ups before the Bears outlasted the Catamounts with one kill a piece from Paige Alsten and Alexia Morey to win the set 28-26.
Â
Set 3 (25-23) | Mercer began set three in a 7-4 hole. However Alsten knocked in a kill to spark five unanswered points, allowing the Bears to take the first lead of the set. The Catamounts trailed the remainder of the match, despite three tie-ups (11-11, 20-20 and 21- 21). Mercer's Major would finish the set off with three kills out of the four final Mercer points.Â
Â
Set 4 (25-20) | Even though Western Carolina registered the first point, it would be the Bears who came out hot to start the set, leading 6-3. Another mid-match 5-0 run, which included a pair of Megan Smith aces, would extend Mercer's lead 14-8. Despite a 3-0 Catamount run, Western Carolina was unable to pull within four points of the Bears. The final match-point was awarded to Alsten with her eighteenth kill of the night.
Â
NOTABLES
- Mercer is on a six-game win streak and are 1.000 at home this season (5-0).
- Mercer earned more kills than the Catamounts, notching 61 to their 39. The Bears also recorded 56 assists to Western Carolina's 36, and 83 digs (Bears) to 70 (Catamounts).
- Paige Alsten notched a team-high 18 kills, marking the sixth consecutive match with double-digit kills. Alsten also tied her season-high of seven total blocks.
- Brittany Major contributed 15 kills and two blocks and was a key factor in the second set, notching eight of her 15 kills.
- Maddie Nunley marked her third double-double for the season collecting a season-high 50 assists and 10 digs. The sophomore setter also added a team-high hitting percentage (.429) and two blocks.
- Mercer recorded a season-high 83 digs with Amber Gibson leading the way with a career-high and team-high 21 digs. The junior was also the starting libero.
- Annie Karle earned her first career-start and registered a season-high eight kills, eight digs and three total blocks.
- Roberta Todd also marked her first Mercer career double-double, notching 11 kills and 10 digs.
RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 8-4, 1-0 SoCon
- Western Carolina: 6-7, 0-2 SoCon
NEXT MATCH
Mercer will hosts its second conference match-up against UNCG tomorrow, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. The match will be played in Hawkins Arena. Â
Â
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.
Â
Mercer Football Press Conference (Week 3 vs. Wofford)
Monday, September 08
Mercer v. South Florida Men's Soccer Highlight Reel: 9/7/2025
Monday, September 08
Mercer v. Gardner-Webb Women's Soccer Highlight Reel: 9/7/2025
Monday, September 08
Mercer v. Kennesaw State Women's Soccer Highlight Reel: 9/4/2025
Friday, September 05
