Mercer Completes Sweep of UNCG with 3-1 Win

Monday, February 8

Greensboro, NC

5 p.m.

Mercer University

4-5 (3-1)

UNC Greensboro

0-4 (0-4)

Mercer

UNCG Spartans

2/8/2021 7:06:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Bears improve to 3-1 in SoCon

By: Jesika Moore

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Mercer Bears Volleyball Improved to 3-1 in the Southern Conference with a 3-1 win over the UNCG Spartans on Monday night. Senior Megan Smith lead the team with three service aces on the night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set One (21-25) | A couple of kills from Jaida Howell, Malia Randolph, and Annie Karle and a few long balls from the Spartans gave the Bears an early 8-1 lead. The Spartans would go on a 10-0 run to take the lead. Karle's two kills would end the Spartan's run and tie the game. UNCG would go on another 7-0 run to take the lead. Rayanne de Oliveira would end the run with a kill. The Bears would claw their way within three, but it wasn't enough. The Spartans would take set one.

Set Two (25-14) | The Bears started the second set slow with UNCG taking the first three points. Annie Karle got Mercer on the board with a kill, assisted by Megan Smith. The Black and Orange wouldn't stop after that. The Bears went on a 17-1 run to take a dominant 19-7 lead. Jaida Howell and Annie Karle would lead the team during the run with three kills apiece. Libero Megan Smith served up two aces to help Mercer. UNCG would go on a 4-0 run but Taylor Lynch's block would end the set for the Bears!

Set Three (25-13) | The dominant second set rolled into the third set with the Bears taking an early 11-2 lead. Rayanne de Oliveira and Annie Karle would register two kills while Karle would also register a service ace. UNCG would slowly make a comeback, cutting the Bears lead to four. Three errors from the Spartans and a kill from Malia Randolph would give Mercer the eight-point lead. The Bears and Spartans would trade points back and forth but the Bears would come out on top and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Set Four (25-18) | The fourth set was a back and forth battle between the Bears and Spartans. Brittany Major, Jaida Howell, and Taylor Lynch scored the Bears first three earned points. Agnieska Paskevic would cut the Bears deficit to one with a service ace. Both teams would continue to battle with the largest lead being four. Taylor and Annie's kills would tie the set at 16. Mercer would go on a 6-0 run to put them within three points of taking the match. Kills from Rayanne de Oliveira and Annie Karle would complete the set for the Bears.

UP NEXT
The Bears will return home to host The Citadel on Sunday Feb. 14 and Monday Feb. 15 in Hawkins Arena. The matches will start at 3 p.m. and6 p.m.

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.