Mercer Falls To Illinois State In Final Match Of Owls Paradise Classic

Saturday, September 21

Boca Raton, Fla.

11 a.m.

Mercer University

10-3,0-0SoCon

Illinois State

5-8,0-0MVC

Illinois St.

Mercer

Mercer Falls To Illinois State In Final Match Of Owls Paradise Classic

9/21/2024 1:57:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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

BOCA RATON - The Mercer volleyball team fell to Illinois State 3-2 in the final match of the Owls Paradise Classic. Mercer rallied to send the match into five sets but were unable to come away with a win against the Redbirds.

Skye Ekes led the offense with 16 kills while MeMe Davis led the defense with 17 digs. Gia Padilla recorded another double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. Brooke Phillips added seven digs of her own and 42 assists while Joselynn Sanjurjo and Sydney VanCott were a wall at the net combining for eight blocks.

The Bears will open up conference play next weekend on the road against Western Carolina and The Citadel. The Orange & Black head to Cullowhee, N.C. on Friday to take on the Catamounts in a 6 p.m. match then travel to Charleston, S.C. to face the Bulldogs on Saturday at 7 p.m.

MATCH SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 2, Illinois State 3 (27-25, 17-25, 14-25, 25-22, 8-15)
RECORDS	Mercer 10-3, 0-0 SoCon; Presbyterian 5-8, 0-0 MVC
ARENA	Baldwin Arena (Boca Raton, Fla.)

MATCH REPLAY
SET 1 I 27-25	The two squads battled back and forth for the majority of the set. Skyler Bumpers went on two long service runs to get the Bears ahead, including back-to-back aces to get Mercer back within three points at the 9-12 mark. The middle blocker also sealed the set win with a kill.
SET 2 I 17-25	Mercer was able to get up quickly on the Redbirds but fell behind after a few errors. The Bears battled back to come within five points but it was not enough to shut down Illinois State.
SET 3 I 14-25	The Bears struggled to get a rally going and were forced to work from behind throughout the set. Mercer came within five points after a kill by Bumpers but a five-point service run from the Redbirds ended the set.
SET 4 \| 25-22	The Bears came into the fourth set ready for a battled and they did just that up until the final point. Skye Ekes and Gia Padilla combined for nine kills to send the match into a fifth set.
SET 5 \| 8-15	Mercer fell behind early in the set with the Bears trailing by five. Another kill by Bumpers put Mercer back within range but the Redbirds took advantage of a few Mercer errors and rallied to be just the third team all season to take down the Bears.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
KILLS	Skye Ekes (16), Gia Padilla (10), Skyler Bumpers (7)
ASSISTS	Brooke Phillips (42), Abbey Havrilla (3), Gia Padilla (1)
DIGS	MeMe Davis (17), Gia Padilla (10), Aubri Martin (8)
BLOCKS	Sydney VanCott (4), Joselynn Sanjurjo (4)
SERVICE ACES	Skyler Bumpers (2)

UP NEXT
The Bears will open up conference play next weekend on the road against Western Carolina and The Citadel. The Orange & Black head to Cullowhee, N.C. on Friday to take on the Catamounts in a 6 p.m. match then travel to Charleston, S.C. to face the Bulldogs on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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