Bears Fall In Five Sets To Samford

Saturday, October 18

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

6-15,2-6SoCon

Samford

8-11,3-5SoCon

Samford

Mercer

10/18/2025 8:38:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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

MACON, Ga. - The Mercer volleyball team dropped a heartbreaker in five sets to Samford on Saturday night inside Hawkins Arena to close out the first half of Southern Conference play. Three different Bears recorded double-digit kills with two career-highs in the loss.

Sophomore outside hitter Sophia Henry led the Mercer offense with 21 kills (.450), a career high for the Atlanta native. Freshman outside hitter Lara Matta posted a career-high 14 kills (.400) and Charlotte Thompson recorded double-digit kills for the second night in a row with 11. Sophomore setter Sammi Bergjans tallied 27 assists and five digs on the night while sophomore libero Aubri Martin put up another double-double with 22 digs and 11 assists.

The Bears will kick off their Tennessee road trip against ETSU on Tuesday, October. 21 at 6 p.m. in J. Madison Brooks Gymnasium. Mercer will then head to Chattanooga to take on the Mocs on Wednesday, October. 22 in Maclellan Gym at 6 p.m.

MATCH SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 2, Samford 3 (23-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-13, 13-15)
RECORDS	Mercer 6-15, 2-6 SoCon; Samford 8-11, 3-5 SoCon
ARENA	Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

MATCH REPLAY
SET 1 I 23-25	Set one was a back and forth battle between the two squads with 13 tie scores and nine lead changes. The Bulldogs used back-to-back kills to gain the advantage over the Bears.
SET 2 I 25-16	Mercer came out hot with an early 13-7 lead over Samford to take the momentum. A kill from Sophia Henry gave the Bears a 10-point lead at the 20-10 mark to pull the set out of reach from the Bulldogs.
SET 3 I 20-25	Once again the two teams fought for an advantage over the other exchanging leads until Samford took a 16-10 lead. Mercer slowly fought back to put the score 18-22 but they were not able to string together enough points.
SET 4 \| 25-13	Mercer took back the momentum in set four off of a 9-2 lead after a seven point service run from Sarah Frager. The Bears took another 10-point lead at the 14-4 mark and cruised to win set four 25-13, forcing a fifth set.
SET 5 \| 13-15	Both teams fought until the final point but Samford took advantage of their opportunities in set five to earn their third win in the SoCon.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
KILLS	Sophia Henry (21), Lara Matta (14), Charlotte Thompson (11)
ASSISTS	Sammi Bergjans (27), Jessica Dunn (15), Aubri Martin (11)
DIGS	Aubri Martin (22), Sophia Henry, Sarah Frager (8)
BLOCKS	Joselynn Sanjurjo (4), Lara Matta (2)
SERVICE ACES	Sammi Bergjans, Avery Wilks, Jessica Dunn (1)

UP NEXT
The Bears will kick off their Tennessee road trip against ETSU on Tuesday, October. 21 at 6 p.m. in J. Madison Brooks Gymnasium. Mercer will then head to Chattanooga to take on the Mocs on Wednesday, October. 22 in Maclellan Gym at 6 p.m.

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