Mercer Splits Friday Matches At Sun Belt Mid-Year Weekend

FOLEY, Ala. – Mercer got the better end of a pair of close matchups on the way to besting College of Charleston in its morning matchup, but saw the table turned in a close setback to Coastal Carolina, as the Bears split 3-2 decisions on opening-day action at the Sun Belt Mid-Year Weekend on Friday at the Foley Events Center.

Mercer (15-7, 2-2 SBC) has now captured three-straight contests in its 14-year-old series with College of Charleston (5-11, 0-3). Coastal Carolina (9-10, 3-1) has now captured 13-straight meetings in its series with the Bears dating back to the 2020 season.

The Bears got unbeaten days from both its No. 2 Pair (Liv Diaz/Jordan Paddock) and No. 3 Pair (Kate Hardie/Sydney Benson), with Diaz/Paddock highlighting the morning in Alabama by battling back from an opening-set loss to topple Coastal Carolina's Anna Rita and Madeline Sigmon.

Hardie/Benson toughed out a 21-18, 21-18 victory over College of Charleston's Kora Hansen/Alivia Newberg in the early matchup, and then went gritty again against Coastal Carolina on the shoulders of a 22-20, 21-19 win over Coastal Carolina's Kristyna Koblizkova and Maya McNabey.

Paddock used Friday's performances to register her 49^th and 50^th career victories.

Mercer will close out its stay on the Alabama gulf coast on Saturday with a pair of matches. The Bears are scheduled for a noon ET contest with Louisiana Monroe (7-10, 1-1), as well as a 2 p.m. tilt with 18^th-ranked Georgia State (8-13, 2-0).

Mercer Splits Friday Matches At Sun Belt Mid-Year Weekend

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Players Mentioned

Sydney Benson

Liv Diaz

Kate Hardie

Jordan Paddock

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