Mercer Drops Four-Set Thriller To Samford

Friday, November 14

Birmingham, Ala.

7:30 p.m.

Mercer University

9-19,5-10SoCon

Samford

12-14,7-8SoCon

Mercer

Samford

11/14/2025 9:27:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Mercer volleyball team dropped a four-set thriller to Samford in Birmingham at the Pete Hanna Center on Friday night.

Sophomore outside hitter Sophia Henry led the Bears with 17 kills and Lara Matta added nine of her own. Sophomore setter Sammi Bergjans posted 20 assists, nine digs and four service aces on the night. Sophomore libero Aubri Martin held down the defense with 21 digs and seven assists.

The Bears will close out the regular season in Cullowhee, N.C. for a 6 p.m. match up against Western Carolina at Ingles Court. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

MATCH SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 1, Samford 3 (21-25, 26-24, 25-27,)
RECORDS	Mercer 9-19, 5-10 SoCon; Samford 12-14, 7-8 SoCon
ARENA	Birmingham, Ala. (Pete Hanna Center)

MATCH REPLAY
SET 1 I 21-25	The Bears fell behind early on in the set but were able to tie it at the 16-16 mark after a kill from Lara Matta. The Bulldogs used a four-point service run to their advantage and maintained the lead throughout the rest of the set.
SET 2 I 26-24	Mercer took an early lead and the momentum from the Bulldogs within the first few points of the set. Samford took the lead but Mercer came back to tie it 23-23 after an ace from Abbey Havrilla. Mercer secured the win off of back-to-back kills from Avery Wilks.
SET 3 I 25-27	Set three was a back and forth battle between the two squads with 11 tie scores and six lead changes. Samford got hot at the right time and ended the set on a service ace.
SET 4 \| 18-25	The Bears were not able to take the momentum back from the Bulldogs and Samford used it to their advantage. The Bulldogs got their offense in a groove and cruised to the match-win after a seven-point service run.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
KILLS	Sophia Henry (17), Lara Matta (9), Charlotte Thompson, Destiny Nelson (8)
ASSISTS	Sammi Bergjans (20), Jessica Dunn (14), Aubri Martin (7)
DIGS	Aubri Martin (21), Sammi Bergjans (9) Abbey Havrilla (8)
BLOCKS	Avery Wilks, Destiny Nelson, Lara Matta, Joselynn Sanjurjo (1)
SERVICE ACES	Sammi Bergjans (4), Avery Wilks, Abbey Havrilla, Sophia Henry (2)

UP NEXT
The Bears will close out the regular season in Cullowhee, N.C. for a 6 p.m. match up against Western Carolina at Ingles Court. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

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