Mercer’s Streak Ends with Loss Against Catamounts

Sunday, March 14

Cullowhee, NC

3 p.m.

Mercer University

10-6,10-3SoCon

Western Carolina

7-7,7-5SoCon

Mercer

Western Caro.

Mercer’s Streak Ends with Loss Against Catamounts

3/14/2021 5:07:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Jesika Moore

CULLOWHEE, N.C.. –The Mercer Bears win streak came to an end with a 0-3 loss against the Western Carolina Catamounts on Sunday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set One (13-25) | The Bears started off slow falling 5-11 early in the first. Mercer's five points came from Rayanne de Oliveira and Annie Karle. The Bears closed the Catamounts lead to eight points with a few Western Carolina errors and kills from Karle and de Oliveira. The comeback wasn't enough. The Catamounts took the first set.

Set Two (24-26) | Brittany Major's kill early in the second set gave Mercer their first lead of the match. Rayanne de Oliveira would keep that lead alive with a kill. The catamounts would take the lead again off a few kills, 10-7. The Bears would tie the game at 13 with kills from Taylor Lynch, Malia Randolph and blocks from Jaida Howell, Randolph, and Lynch. Western Carolina would take the lead but the Bears tied it up again at 16 with kills from Jaida Howell. Both teams would not give up and tied again at 24 each. The Catamounts would take set two.

Set Three (25-22) | The bears jumped out to a 11-8 lead with kills from Karle, de Oliveira, and Lynch. The Catamounts came back and took a four point lead. Western Carolina kept the lead for the rest of the od the set. Annie Karle tried to help the Bears claw their way back, but Western Carolina took the match.

DEX QUOTE
"Western Carolina on their senior night. Their style of volleyball and many things they do, we just don't like to deal with. It's always uncomfortable on my style teams playing here. We are going to prep hard for tomorrow and try to create more of a Mercer style match in their arena."

NOTABLES

Annie Karle recorded another double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs.
Taylor Lynch was the only other Bear with double digit kills with 10.
Megan Smith led the team with 15 digs, followed by Annie Karle and Brittany Major with 12.
Rayanne de Oliveira was the only Bear to record a solo block in the match.

UP NEXT
The Bears finish out the series with a game tomorrow night at 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.