Mercer to Compete in Georgia Southern Tournament

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Bears volleyball team remain on the road with a Friday double-header against USC Upstate and Georgia Southern and a single match against Alabama State on Saturday in Statesboro, Ga.

USC UPSTATE MATCH DETAILS
Date | Time: Friday Sept. 17^th | 12:30 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (3-5) vs. USC Upstate (2-7)
Location: Statesboro, Ga.
Live Stats: South Carolina Upstate vs. Mercer (statbroadcast.com)
Twitter Updates: @MercerBearsVB

GEORGIA SOUTHERN MATCH DETAILS
Date | Time: Friday Sept. 17^th | 6:30 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (3-5) vs. Georgia Southern (4-3)
Location: Statesboro, Ga.
Live Stats: Mercer at Ga. Southern (statbroadcast.com)
Watch: Mercer vs. Georgia Southern (W Volleyball) | Watch ESPN
Twitter Updates: @MercerBearsVB

ALABAMA STATE MATCH DETAILS
Date | Time: Saturday Sept. 18^th | 10:00 a.m.
Teams: Mercer (3-5) vs. Alabama State (0-10)
Location: Statesboro, Ga.
Live Stats: Mercer vs. Alabama State University (statbroadcast.com)
Twitter Updates: @MercerBearsVB

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE SPARTANS
The meeting between the Bears and the Spartans will be the 13^th. The last matchup on September 17^th, 2016 ended in a Mercer victory of 3-1. The Bears have defeated the Spartans in eight of the last 12 meetings.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE EAGLES
The Bears and the Eagles meet for the 29^th time. The last meeting between these two teams was August 30^th, 2019, which ended in a Mercer sweep (3-0). The Eagles lead the series 18-11.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE HORNETS
This will be the sixth matchup between Mercer and Alabama State. The Bears hold a 5-0 series lead over the Hornets. The last meeting was on September 27^th,2005. The Bears swept. 3-0.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

The Spartans are coming off a 1-2 weekend at the Southern Illinois Invite. Overall, the Spartans hold a 2-7 record with wins against Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State. Outside hitter, Kelly Wiedemann leads the team in kills (80) and digs (77). Middle blocker, Alexis Mareko is the team leader in blocks with a total of 29; 26 block assists and three solo blocks. Mareko ranks fifth in the Big South in blocks per set (1.07). Freshman libero, Julia Gladhill, has recorded 10 service aces for the season. Along with Gladhill, the Spartans have welcomed five other freshman to the team. Head coach Ronda Shirley is in her second season.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
The Eagles host their third tournament of the season. This season, the Eagles have recorded wins against Presbyterian, Coppin State, Bethune-Cookman, and FIU. The Eagles enter the tournament following a 1-1 weekend at home. Team leaders include: Hannah McGlockton, OH (69 kills), Grace Slader, S (133 assists, and eight service aces), Rebekah Farthing, DS (81 digs), and Baylor Bumford (M/RS) and Christina Walton (M) tie with 25 blocks. Eight new additions joined the Eagles this year. Chad Willis is in his third season as the head volleyball coach.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
The Hornets enter the tournament looking for their first win of the season, starting off with a 0-10 record. Outside hitter, Jada Rhodes serves as the team leader for the Hornets in kills (60) and digs (56). Setter, Madison Beasley has recorded 153 assists while middle blockers, Mahogany Vinson and Kalysia Bates lead in blocks (23) and service aces (16). The team has four new members. Head coach Penny Lucas-White is in her 11^th season.

NOTABLES

Rayanne de Oliveira and Brittany Major were named to the All-Tournament Team in the Aggie/Phoenix Volley for Unity Tournament. de Oliveira leads the Bears in service aces (10) and blocks (19). Major ranks second in kills (65) and fourth in digs (48), blocks (11), and assists (4).
Agnieska Paskevic set a career/match high of 44 assists and her first career block against North Carolina A&T (Sep. 11); Paskevic set a new career/match high of three kills against Elon (Sep. 11)
Megan Smith ranks second in the SoCon in digs; 137 total.

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.

Mercer to Compete in Georgia Southern Tournament

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Players Mentioned

Rayanne de Oliveira

Brittany Major

Agnieska Paskevic

Megan Smith

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