Bears Move To 3-0 With Wins Over Rhode Island, North Florida

Saturday, August 31

Jacksonville, Fla.

Noon

Mercer University

2-0,0-0SoCon

Rhode Island

0-3,0-0Atlantic 10

Mercer

Rhode Island

Bears Move To 3-0 With Wins Over Rhode Island, North Florida

8/31/2024 3:59:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hot-handed Mercer combined to register a .222 hitting percentage, while also raking in 94 kills, 32 blocks and 26 service aces on the way to closing out the North Florida Invitational on Saturday with victories over Rhode Island and the host Ospreys.

Mercer (3-0) dominated from start to finish in a straight-set win over Rhode Island (0-3), and then rallied back from a 2-1 deficit in the nightcap against North Florida (2-1) by capturing sets four and five.

Undefeated through three games for just the second time in the last 17 years, Mercer will lift the lid on the home portion of its 2024 regular season schedule on Wednesday when it welcomes Maryland Eastern Shore (2-0) to Hawkins Arena. First service is scheduled for 4 p.m. and admission is free.

MATCH SUMMARY (RHODE ISLAND)
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 3, Rhode Island 0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-11)
RECORDS	Mercer 2-0, 0-0 SoCon; Rhode Island 0-3, 0-0 A-10
ARENA	UNF Arena (Jacksonville, Fla.)

MATCH REPLAY (RHODE ISLAND)
SET 1 I 25-19	The Bears fell behind in the first few points of the game but quickly bounced back after an ace from MeMe Davis to put the Bears up for the remainder of the set. Mercer's dominant front line combined with solid defense allowed the Bears to secure the first set win of the match.
SET 2 I 23-11	The two squads halved the first 16 points until a kill from Skye Ekes gave the Orange & Black the momentum they needed to go on a 6-point run to give them the advantage over the Rams.
SET 3 I 25-11	Mercer fell behind in the first few points and stayed behind until three Bears kills in a row from Henry, Ekes and Johnson put Mercer in the lead for the rest of the match. Ekes added three more kills of her own to secure the 25-23 set win for the Bears.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (RHODE ISLAND)
KILLS	Gia Padilla (10), Skye Ekes (9), Sophia Henry (7)
ASSISTS	Brooke Phillips (25), MeMe Davis (3), Skye Ekes/Sammi Bergjans (2)
DIGS	MeMe Davis (16), Gia Padilla (6), Brooke Phillips (5)
BLOCKS	Sophia Henry (3), Skyler Bumpers (2), Joselynn Sanjurjo/Brooke Phillips/Lou Johnson (1)
SERVICE ACES	Brooke Phillips (5), Abbey Havrilla (3), Skye Ekes (2)

MATCH SUMMARY (NORTH FLORIDA)
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 3, North Florida 2 (26-28, 26-24, 17-25, 25-17, 15-5)
RECORDS	Mercer 3-0, 0-0 SoCon; North Florida 2-1, 0-0 ASUN
ARENA	UNF Arena (Jacksonville, Fla.)

MATCH REPLAY (NORTH FLORIDA)
SET 1 I 26-28	North Florida hit .273 and controlled much of the first set, but was forced to turn back a late run by Mercer to secure the outcome. The Ospreys led by as many as seven points, 17-10, but eventually squandered two set-point opportunities before closing out the win.
SET 2 I 26-24	MU turned the table in the second set by hitting .229 and posting six blocks, but UNF eventually fought off four set-point opportunities before succumbing. The teams halved the first 11 points of the set, but Mercer inevitably rallied to take a 24-19 advantage following a service error by UNF.
SET 3 I 17-25	The Ospreys rebounded in a big way to retake the lead in the match, hitting .313 at the net while also registering six blocks and a trio of service aces. MU pulled to within two points, 13-11, after an attack error by the hosts, but North Florida took control by collecting five of the next six points.
SET 4 I 25-17	Mercer committed just five attack errors in the fourth set to knot things back up again, but also added three blocks and as many service aces. The Bears tacked up an early 5-1 run, and then used a 10-4 run to take a commanding 22-12 lead.
SET 5 I 15-5	The Orange & Black left no questions on the court by putting together a dominant fifth set to win the evening. Mercer raked in the first five points of the final stanza and eventually led 7-1 after a kill from newcomer Lou Johnson. UNF pulled to within four points, 7-3, but MU closed it out by capturing eight of the next 10 points.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (NORTH FLORIDA)
KILLS	Skye Ekes (16), Gia Padilla (13), Lou Johnson (12)
ASSISTS	Brooke Phillips (39), MeMe Davis (6), Sammi Bergjans (6)
DIGS	MeMe Davis (19), Gia Padilla (18), Brooke Phillips (10)
BLOCKS	Lou Johnson (8), Skye Ekes (7), Skyler Bumpers (3)
SERVICE ACES	Brooke Phillips (6), MeMe Davis (4), Gia Padilla (2)

UP NEXT
Mercer will open the home portion of its 2024 regular season schedule on Wednesday when it suits up to host Maryland Eastern Shore (2-0) in a 4 p.m. contest at Hawkins Arena. Admission to all 2024 Mercer Volleyball home matches is free.

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