Bears Bypass The Buccaneers In A Record-Setting Victory

Saturday, November 2

Johnson City, Tenn.

4 p.m.

Mercer University

20-4,10-1SoCon

East Tennessee State

15-9,7-5SoCon

Mercer

ETSU

Bears Bypass The Buccaneers In A Record-Setting Victory

11/2/2024 6:07:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Kaylin Flukey, kaylin.flukey@live.mercer.edu

JOHNSON CITY - Following tonight's win the Mercer volleyball team has set a new school record for the most wins in a season during the rally scoring era (since 2001) with an overall record of 20-4. The Bears took down the Buccaneers in a thrilling four set victory.

The Mercer offense combined for a total of 52 kills and a team .260 hitting percentage in the win. Skye Ekes recorded a match-high 16 kills and Brooke Phillips tallied an impressive 41 assists and added six kills. Skyler Bumpers defended the net with four blocks while MeMe Davis and Gia Padilla combined for 24 digs in the back row with 14 and 10, respectively.

The Bears have a packed schedule next week after the addition of the rescheduled match at Western Carolina on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at noon in Cullowhee, N.C. The following day on Nov. 7, the Bears will play at Furman to face the Paladins in a 6 p.m. match in Greenville, S.C. Mercer will close out the week back at home in Hawkins Arena to host Samford on Saturday, Nov. 9 for Taylor Swift Eras Night at 6 p.m.

MATCH SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 3, ETSU 1 (24-26, 25-16, 25-23, 25-23)
RECORDS	Mercer 20-4, 10-1 SoCon; ETSU 15-9, 7-5 SoCon
ARENA	Johnson City, Tenn. (J. Madison Brooks Gymnasium)

MATCH REPLAY
SET 1 I 24-26	Both squads battled back and forth throughout the entire set after the Bears battled back from a three point deficit to take the lead at the 10-9 mark, following an Abbey Havrilla ace. The Buccaneers were able to take advantage of a few Mercer errors to take set one.
SET 2 I 25-16	Mercer came back wanting revenge in the second set coming out with a 5-0 lead. The Bears maintained the momentum throughout the entire set with a four-point service run from Skye Ekes to give the Bears a nine point advantage, taking the set out of reach from ETSU.
SET 3 I 25-23	The third set saw multiple different lead changes with Skye Ekes hitting a set-high of five kills. Bumpers and MeMe Davis both recorded important four-point service runs to get Mercer into a good position to come away with the win.
SET 4 \| 25-23	The fourth set proved to be very similar to the third set with both squads battling for the lead. Brooke Phillips came up big for the Bears recording two crucial kills to set up for set and match point.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
KILLS	Skye Ekes (16), Sophia Henry (9), Gia Padilla, Skyler Bumpers (8)
ASSISTS	Brooke Phillips (41), MeMe Davis (3), Gia Padilla (2)
DIGS	MeMe Davis (14), Gia Padilla (10), Brooke Phillips (8)
BLOCKS	Skyler Bumpers (4), Brooke Phillips (3), Lou Johnson, Sophia Henry (2)
SERVICE ACES	Gia Padilla, Skyler Bumpers (3), Skye Ekes, MeMe Davis (1)

UP NEXT

The Bears have a packed schedule next week after the addition of the rescheduled match at Western Carolina on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at noon in Cullowhee, N.C. The following day on Nov. 7, the Bears will play at Furman to face the Paladins in a 6 p.m. match in Greenville, S.C. Mercer will close out the week back at home in Hawkins Arena to host Samford on Saturday, Nov. 9 for Taylor Swift Eras Night at 6 p.m.

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