Volleyball Gears Up For Conference Tournament

Friday, November 22

Spartanburg, S.C.

1:30 p.m.

Mercer University

UNC Greensboro

Volleyball Gears Up For Conference Tournament

11/21/2024 3:56:00 PM | Volleyball

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

MACON - The Mercer volleyball team is set to compete at the Southern Conference Tournament in Spartanburg, S.C. beginning tomorrow Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m. as the Bears will take on the Spartans of UNC Greensboro. Mercer enters the tournament as the number one seed after becoming SoCon Regular Season Champions on Nov. 15, following a win over Wofford.

The Bears concluded the regular season with an overall record of 24-5 and a conference record of 4-2, becoming the winningest team in program history with the first ever outright win in the regular season. Adding to Mercer's historic season, they also remained undefeated at home with a record of 12-0 for the first time in program history.

UNC Greensboro and Mercer faced off twice in the regular season with the Bears coming away with wins in both matches. The Spartans took a set from the Bears during their first meeting back on Oct. 18 in Greensboro, N.C. but Mercer was able to rally back and come away with the 3-1 win. The next meeting was at Hawkins Arena on Nov. 16 when the Bears swept the Spartans on Senior Night to close out the regular season.

Mercer ended the regular season with a combined 1,430 kills, 1,311 assists, 242 service aces and 1,571 digs. Brooke Phillips reached the 1,000 assists mark in a single-season during Mercer's win over Wofford. The graduate setter also leads the conference in service aces with 69 and has posted 272 digs throughout the regular season. Skye Ekes and Skyler Bumpers have been Mercer's go-to attackers all season long with Ekes tallying a total of 409 kills, averaging 3.75 per set and Bumpers with 231 and a .313 hitting percentage. Mercer's freshmen made an instant impact on the program, including libero MeMe Davis who registered 524 digs on the season, averaging 4.81 per set and middle blocker Lou Johnson who averages a .300 hitting percentage.

First serve for the quarterfinal round of the tournament for the Bears is set for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 22, in Spartanburg, S.C. and will be streamed on ESPN+.