Bears Fall To Wofford In SoCon Championship Match

Sunday, November 24

Spartanburg, S.C.

4 p.m.

Mercer University

26-6,14-2SoCon

Wofford

23-8,12-4SoCon

Wofford

Mercer

Bears Fall To Wofford In SoCon Championship Match

11/24/2024 7:04:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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

MACON - The Mercer volleyball team fell to Wofford in the Southern Conference Championship game in a back and forth five set match. The Bears took a 2-0 lead on the Terriers but Wofford's offense came to life fueled by their home court advantage to grasp the tournament title.

The entire match saw 42 tie scores and 16 lead changes proving to be an expected match between a number one and number two seed. Skyler Bumpers left it all out on the court, recording a match and season-high of 21 kills, also adding two solo blocks, two block assists and three digs. Sophia Henry put up big-time numbers, registering a season-high 19 kills and three block assists. Another Bear who put up a season-high was graduate setter Brooke Phillips who tallied 49 assists along with 20 digs, two block assists, four kills and an ace. MeMe Davis posted another match-high of 26 digs accompanied by nine assists.

Bumpers and Davis earned All-Tournament honors for their standout performances throughout the SoCon Tournament. Bumpers totaled 40 kills, hitting .250 and averaged 3.64 kills per set across three matches, along with five blocks and an ace. Davis put up 83 digs, averaging 7.55 digs per set, 20 assists and four service aces during the tournament.

MATCH SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 2, Wofford 3 (25-22, 25-22, 16-25, 24-26, 14-16)
RECORDS	Mercer 26-6, 14-2 SoCon; Wofford 23-8, 12-4 SoCon
ARENA	Spartanburg, S.C. (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium)

MATCH REPLAY
SET 1 I 25-22	Mercer came out hot from the jump with Bumpers leading the way putting up 10 kills in just the first set. The Terriers fought to stay within reach but late kills from Henry and Bumpers gave Mercer the advantage to take set one.
SET 2 I 25-22	The Bears were able to grab an 8-4 lead after a four-point service run from Abbey Havrilla to set the tone for set two. The Terriers tied the set at 22-22 but Mercer kept their composure to win the set after another Bumpers kill.
SET 3 I 16-25	The Terriers refused to go down without a fight, taking the first four points in set three to take the momentum away from the Bears. Mercer was never able to regain their footing. Wofford took advantage and their front line came to life to force a set four.
SET 4 \| 24-26	Set four was another back and forth set between the two SoCon powerhouses. Mercer fought back from a 6-10 deficit to tie the set 10-10. Even after multiple tie scores and lead changes, the Bears were not able to drown out the sound of the loud Wofford gymnasium that fed the energy into their players.
SET 5 \| 14-16	Everyone in Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium was on the edge of their seat for set five. Mercer started the set with a 10-5 lead on the Terriers but Wofford found their last bit on energy to tie the match 14-14. Despite a few kills from Bumpers and Padilla to try to keep the match alive, the Terriers came up big to take the SoCon Tournament title.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
KILLS	Skyler Bumpers (21), Sophia Henry (19), Skye Ekes (17)
ASSISTS	Brooke Phillips (49), MeMe Davis (9), Abbey Havrilla, Sammi Bergjans, Gia Padilla (3)
DIGS	MeMe Davis (26), Brooke Phillips (20), Gia Padilla (9)
BLOCKS	Lou Johnson, Sophia Henry (3), Skyler Bumpers, Brooke Phillips (2)
SERVICE ACES	Brooke Phillips, Abbey Havrilla (1)

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