Mercer Falls to Western Carolina in Straight Sets

Monday, March 15

Cullowhee, NC

5 p.m.

Mercer University

10-7,10-4SoCon

Western Carolina

8-7,8-5SoCon

Mercer

Western Caro.

Photo by: Kayla Davis

Mercer Falls to Western Carolina in Straight Sets

3/15/2021 6:45:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Jesika Moore

CULLOWHEE, N.C.. –The Mercer Bears fell to the Western Carolina Catamounts in straight sets on Monday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set One (20-25) |The Bears jumped out with an early 5-3 lead with kills from Jaida Howell, Rayanne de Oliveira, Malia Randolph, and Annie Karle. The Catamounts came back and tied it at seven. Taylor Lynch and Jaida Howell gave the Bears the lead again. A few attack errors by the Black and Orange would give Western Carolina a two point lead. The Catamounts would be the first team to 20. A Brittany Major kill and a block from Howell and Randolph would cut the gap to four. It wouldn't be enough and the Bears would fall in set one.

Set Two (19-25) | The second set started of hot with both teams tying at 11 points The Bears would gain the three point lead with kills from Jaida Howell and Taylor Lynch. After a Catamount timeout, Western Carolina would go on a run to make it a tie game once again. The Catamounts pulled out with a two point lead. The Catamounts would grow their lead but a 4-1 run by the Bears would cut the deficit. Rayanne de Oliveira, Brittany Major, and Taylor Lynch would each score during the run. The comeback by the Black and Orange wouldn't be enough and Western Carolina would go up two sets.

Set Three (22-25) | Mercer started the third set slow, falling 3-6 but a few Catamount errors and a kill from Annie Karle would tie the set at eight points. Western Carolina would go on a run take a three point lead at 15-12. Jaida Howell and Annie Karle would cut the Catamounts lead to one at 15-16. Brittany Major, Jaida Howell, and Annie Karle kept the Bears alive and cut the Catamounts lead to two, 22-24. I wouldn't be enough an d he Catamounts would take the match.

DEX QUOTE
"Tough weekend for us. We are learning so many lessons along this journey of becoming a team to contend in the Southern Conference and this weekend, we caught some hard ones."

NOTABLES

Annie Karle recorded another double-double with 13 kills and 15 digs.
Brittany Major and Megan Smith led the team with 16 digs in the match, followed by Annie Karle with 15.
Jaida Howell and Rayanne de Oliveira each recorded a solo block. Howell led with five total blocks on the team.
Malia Randolph led with 24 assists in the match, followed by Agnieska Paskevic with nine and Megan Smith with four.

UP NEXT
The Bears will head back to Macon, Ga. to host their final matches of the 2020-21 season. They will welcome the ETSU Bucs on Sunday and Monday. Sunday's Senior Night match will be a 3 p.m. while Monday will be 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.