Bears Sweep Their Way Through Chattanooga

Monday, March 1

Chattanooga, TN

4 p.m.

Mercer University

8-5,8-2SoCon

Chattanooga

5-7,3-7SoCon

Mercer

Chattanooga

3/1/2021 6:23:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Mercer continues their win streak with 3-1 win over the Mocs

By: Jesika Moore

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Mercer Bears stretched their win streak to seven on Monday night with a 3-1 win over the Chattanooga Mocs. Transfer Agnieska Paskevic led the team with 20 assists on the night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set One (25-20) | The Bears jumped out on top quickly, 7-4, with kills from Rayanne de Oliveira, Taylor Lynch, Brittany Major and an ace from Annie Karle. A couple of errors from the Mocs and two kills from Karle would give Mercer the 10-8 lead. Chattanooga fought their way back and tied the set at 11 and eventually took a four-point lead. Taylor Lynch's kill would end the Mocs 3-0 run and cut the lead to three. Chattanooga errors and a service ace from de Oliveira would give the Bears a one point lead. Mercer didn't slow down and continue the 7-0 run with a kill from Lynch. A Chattanooga kill would end the Bears run. The Mocs would close Mercer's lead to one, 21-20, but the Bears took the first set with a kill from Annie Karle.

Set Two (25-19) | Mercer took a dominant lead in the second set taking eight of the first 11 points with kills from Jaida Howell, Taylor Lynch and Malia Randolph. The Mocs worked their way back and tied the set at nine. The Mocs would take the lead for one point, but Annie Karle would give the Black and Orange the one point lead. A 3-0 run from Mercer would give them the three point lead. Three points from the Mocs would put some stress on Mercer but Jaida Howell back-to-back kills would give the Bears a 19-15 lead. A block from Annie Karle and Rayanne de Oliviera would Mercer a 23-18 lead. Brittany Major would end set two with a kill from Agnieska Paskevic.

Set Three (22-25) | The Bears fell behind quickly in the third set with Chattanooga taking a 6-1 lead. Rayanne de Oliveira would score the Bears only earned point during the Mocs 6-2 run making the score 13-4. Two kills from Jaida Howell and one from Malia Randolph would put the Bears within five. The Bears and Mocs traded points, the lead still being four in the Mocs favor. Jaida Howell and a Chattanooga error would close the gap to two points, the closest the Bears have gotten in the third set. The Mocs would take the set 25-22.

Set Four (25-19) | The Bears and Mocs came out fighting in the fourth set, tying at three each. The Black and Orange went on a 6-1 run to double up the Mocs, 10-5. Major, Randolph, ad Karle each registered a kill during the run. The Mocs closed the gap to four points, but three straight kills from de Oliveira, Howell and Lynch gave Mercer the eight point lead, 15-7. Chattanooga would close the gap to three points, 18-15. Another big block from Annie Karle and Rayanne de Oliveira would put Mercer five points away from taking the set. Back-to-back service aces from Karle would give the Bears the momentum they needed. Mercer would take the set and the match.

DEX QUOTE
"We set a couple of goals early in the match today and I was very impressed we hit those. Then we got hit with a big shot of adversity when Annie went down. I am incredibly impressed with my young ladies as they responded, refused to lose, and just found a way to win."

NOTABLES

With the win, Mercer stretches their win streak to seven, improving the best start in program history.
Agnieska Paskevic recorded a season high 22 assists on the match. Malia Randolph had 16.
Jaida Howell was the lone Bear with double-digit kills. She recorded 12 on the match, bringing her season total to 133.
Senior Megan Smith led the team with 19 digs. Brittany Major followed her with 17.
With Mercer's two wins, the Bears become the first team to sweep the Mocs in their own gym.

UP NEXT
The Bears will head back to Hawkins Arena for a pair of matches against the Wofford Terriers on March 7^th and 8^th. Sunday's match is set for 3 p.m. and Monday is set for 6 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.