Bears Split Opening-Day Action At Stetson Spring Fling

Friday, February 21

DeLand, Fla.

10 a.m.

Mercer University

#20 Stetson

Bears Split Opening-Day Action At Stetson Spring Fling

2/21/2025 5:18:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

at Stetson Box Score vs. Eckerd Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

DELAND, Fla. – The 20^th-ranked Stetson Hatters posted a quartet of wins in straight-sets to key a 5-0 win over Mercer in the season opener for both teams, but the Bears rebounded with a 5-0 shutout of Eckerd to wrap up opening-day action at the Stetson Spring Fling on Saturday afternoon at the Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts.

Mercer's (1-1) No. 3 pair of Sydney Benson and Liv Diaz made quick work of Eckerd's Teagan VanderMey and Emma Samuelson to spark the Bears in their afternoon matchup, before clinching their first win of the 2025 campaign a short time later with victories on Court Nos. 2 and 5.

Kate Hardie and Jordan Paddock were convincing in a 21-18, 21-11 triumph, while Reese Hood and Grace Rathburn rebounded from an opening-set loss on Court No. 5 with a 21-13 victory in the second set, and a dominant 15-8 result in the deciding third set.

Lexi Polychrones and Hollis Engel posted a 15-5 result in their match-deciding third set on Court No. 1. Likewise, Reese Hood and Grace Rathburn rebounded from an opening-set loss at No. 5 Pairs and closed out their win with 21-13, 15-8 scores.

The Bears will close out their stay in central Florida on Saturday with two more matches at the Stetson Spring Fling. MU is scheduled to take on Nebraska (0-2) at 9 a.m. and Stephen F. Austin (2-0) at 1 p.m.