Bears Win Home Opener Against Maryland Eastern Shore

Wednesday, September 4

Macon, Ga.

4 p.m.

Mercer University

4-0,0-0SoCon

Maryland Eastern Shore

2-1,0-0MEAC

UMES

Mercer

Bears Win Home Opener Against Maryland Eastern Shore

9/4/2024 6:06:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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

MACON - The Mercer volleyball team fed off of the energy from the crowd in Hawkins Arena to take down Maryland Eastern Shore in its first home game of 2024. The Bears took three straight sets from the Hawks to move to 4-0 on the season.

The Bears defense recorded an impressive 1.000 reception percentage with 46 total digs and the offense achieved a .248 hitting percentage compared to the Hawks' percentage of .061. Freshman Sophia Henry got her first taste of Hawkins Arena, amassing a match-high 13 kills and one block. Defensive Player of the Week, MeMe Davis, led the defense with 16 digs and senior setter Brooke Phillips registered 36 assists and three aces to help her team remain undefeated.

Mercer looks to keep their win-streak alive as they travel to North Carolina this weekend for the High Point Invitational in Millis Arena. The Orange & Black will face Ohio on Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. and High Point the following day at 1 p.m.

MATCH SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 3, UMES 0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-21)
RECORDS	Mercer 4-0, 0-0 SoCon; UMES 2-1, 0-0 MEAC
ARENA	Hawkins Arena (Macon, Ga.)

MATCH REPLAY
SET 1 I 25-16	Both teams were settling into the match during the first quarter of the set with a few errors recorded on both sides. However, Mercer took the momentum of the set after a kill from Lou Johnson put the Bears up 10-6 and set up Skye Ekes for a five-point service run giving Mercer a strong lead to finish out the set.
SET 2 I 23-25	The Bears carried the momentum from the first set as they came out and dominated in the second set. Mercer got up early on the Hawks and never turned back, combining for a set-total of 13 kills and five service aces. Henry led the offense during set two with four kills.
SET 3 I 25-23	Mercer fell behind slightly in the beginning of the set but inched their way back in to take the lead. The Hawks were never far behind as they came back to tie the score 17-17. The next few points went back and forth until an Ekes kill and a five-point run from the Bears secured the match-win for the Orange & Black, advancing them to 4-0.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
KILLS	Sophia Henry (13), Skye Ekes (11), Gia Padilla (8)
ASSISTS	Brooke Phillips (36), MeMe Davis (3)
DIGS	MeMe Davis (16), Brooke Phillips (9), Abbey Havrilla (6)
BLOCKS	Skyler Bumpers (3), Brooke Phillips, Sophia Henry, Skye Ekes (1)
SERVICE ACES	Brooke Phillips (3), Skyler Bumpers (2), Skye Ekes (2)

UP NEXT

The Bears look to extend their win-streak as they travel up to North Carolina this weekend to face High Point and Ohio in the High Point Invitational. Mercer will begin the weekend with a match against Ohio on Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. The Bears will return to Millis Center the following day go up against the host team High Point with the first serve scheduled for 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+ along with LiveStats provided by the High Point Athletics Department.

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