Bears Streak Continues with Five Set Win Over Wofford

Sunday, March 7

Macon, Ga.

3 p.m.

Mercer University

9-5,9-2SoCon

Wofford

7-3,7-3SoCon

Wofford

Mercer

Bears Streak Continues with Five Set Win Over Wofford

3/7/2021 8:52:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Mercer stretches win streak to eight

By: Jesika Moore

MACON, GA. – Annie Karle and Brittany Major's double-double helps push Bears to their eighth straight win in a come-from-behind five set win over the Wofford Terriers on Sunday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set One (19-25) | The Bears started the set off, taking the first two points with kills from Brittany Major and Jaida Howell. Wofford would respond with a 10-1 run to take a dominant 14-5 lead. Back to back kills from Annie Karle would end the Terriers 5-0 run. A late 7-3 run by the Bears would cut the Terriers lead to four, 23-19. The run wouldn't be enough and Wofford would take the first set.

Set Two (21-25) |Mercer was off to a slow start in the second set, falling 9-2. The Bears two points coming from Jaida Howell and Taylor Lynch. Malia Randolph's kill would start a 9-4 run for Mercer that would close the gap to four points. During the run the Bears would earn points from Randolph, Karle, Rayanne de Oliveira, Lynch, and Agnieska Paskevic. The Black and Orange would continue to claw their way back, but Wofford would take the second set.

Set Three (26-24) | Mercer refused to go down without a fight. The Bears suck with Wofford for the entire set. Brittany Major would get the Black and Orange on the board with two kills. Both teams kept the fight up, tying at 16 each. The Terriers would score four unanswered points to take the 20-16 lead. Two kills from Karle and two errors from the Terriers tied the set again at 20. Wofford came within one point from taking the match and ending the Bears win streak. Two attack errors from Wofford would give Mercer the moment they needed and Brittany Major would keep Mercer's streak alive with a service ace.

Set Four (25-20) | Mercer's fight continued in the fourth set, never falling behind Wofford. Major and de Olivera earned the Bears first few points. After the Bears went on a 7-3 run, Mercer would have a 15-10 lead. Four Bears would score during the run-Brittany Major, Annie Karle, Rayanne de Oliveira, and Taylor Lynch. Wofford would try to cut the gap, going on a late 4-1 run, but an attack error and a kill from Lynch would force a fifth set.

Set Five (15-9) | The Bears and Terriers started the last set strong each keeping the set within one. The last set was tied at seven, but the Black and Orange turned up the heat and went end the match on a 8-2 run. During the run, Annie Karle led with four kills, followed by Rayanne de Oliveira and Brittany Major with one. Major's kill would be the one to end the match and continue Mercer's win streak.

DEX QUOTE
"That was awesome! We needed team that would come in here and challenge is the way Wofford did. The way we fought back and worked together to come out with a win is what this team and this program needs. Tonight we proved that we can win."

NOTABLES

Annie Karle and Brittany Major each had a double-double in the match. Karle had 18 kills and 14 digs, while Major had 17 kills with 14 digs.
Along with Karle and Major, Taylor Lynch had double-digit kills with 10.
Three Bears had four block assists in the match. Jaida Howell, Brittany Major, and Rayanne de Oliveira.
Megan Smith led the team with 22 digs, followed by Agnieska Paskevic with 16, and Major and Karle with 14.
Agnieska Paskevic recorded her Mercer career high with 33 assists.

UP NEXT
The Bears will finish their series with Wofford tomorrow night in Hawkins Arena. The match 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.