Bears Beat Spartans in a Five Set Battle

Sunday, February 7

Greensboro, NC

4 p.m.

Mercer University

2-5 (1-1)

UNC Greensboro

0-2 (0-2)

Mercer

UNCG Spartans

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

2/7/2021 6:57:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Three Bears had double-digit kills

By: Jesika Moore

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Three Bears had double-digit kills in Mercer's 3-2 win over the UNCG Spartans Sunday night. Jaida Howell led the squad with 13, followed by Brittany Major and Annie Karle with 12 each.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set One (22-25) The Bears fell behind 0-2 in the first set but quickly retaliated and tied the game with an ace from Lexi Uhrhan. The Bears and Spartans battled throughout the entire set making it anyone's game. Four Spartan errors would give the Bears a three point lead but UNCG would make a comeback. They would go on 6-0 run to take the set.

Set Two (25-14) | Mercer was on a hot start in the second set, taking five of the first six points. Annie Karle registered a service ace and Taylor Lynch got a kill with help from Agnieska Paskevic. Lynch would start a big 9-2 run for the Bears. During the run, five Bears would score. Brittany Major, Malia Randolph, Jaida Howell, Annie Karle, and Rayanne de Oliviera would all register a kill giving Mercer a dominant 15-5 lead. The Spartans would go on a late 5-0 run but three straight service aces from Rayanne de Oliveira would cap off the second set for the Bears.

Set Three (25-22) | The Black and Orange went down 0-3 to start the third set. Brittany Major started a 6-1 run that included a kill from Jaida Howell. UNCG wouldn't give up and kept it a close set and took a three point lead. Rayanne's service ace and a Spartan error would cut the lead to one. The Black and Orange's late 7-3 run solidified the set for Mercer. Rayanne de Oliveira started it with a kill and ended it with an ace.

Set Four (22-25) | The Bears and Spartans both started off strong in the fourth set to keep it close. Karle, Major, and Lynch all gave the Bears points. UNCG's 4-0 run would put the Bears down by three. Major would start a 3-0 run for the Bears. From there, the Bears kept it within two. A kill from Lynch and a service ace from de Oliveira would cut the lead to one. From there, both teams would trade points. The Spartans would go on a late 4-3 run to end the set and force overtime.

Set Five (15-6) | Mercer came out of the gates hot and never cooled down. Five Bear were responsible for scoring the 15 points needed to win. Rayanne started it followed by Major. Jaida Howell and Annie Karle led Mercer in the fifth set with three kills each. Megan Smith recorded her second kill this season in the much needed set. The Bears easily coasted to the 15 points needed to take the match.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
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