Bears Battled Buccaneers in SoCon Opener

Thursday, September 25

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

4-10,0-1SoCon

East Tennessee State

7-5,1-0SoCon

ETSU

Mercer

9/25/2025 8:26:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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

MACON, Ga. - The Mercer volleyball team battled until the last point in the 2025 Southern Conference opener on Thursday night inside Hawkins Arena but came away with a 0-3 loss to the Buccaneers.

Sophomore setter Sammi Bergjans recorded her second double-double in a row with 12 assists and 11 digs on the night. Sophomore outside hitter Sophia Henry led the offense with 11 kills and added three aces. Junior middle blocker was a wall at the net with three solo blocks and three block assists while also adding five kills. Sophomore libero Aubri Martin posted a match-high 13 digs while Sarah Frager tallied four digs and two assists against the Buccaneers.

Mercer returns to Hawkins Arena on Friday, Sept. 26 for their Yellow Game as they raise love and support for Ali Waldon, who us currently battling osteosarcoma. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Hawkins Arena against the Mocs of Chattanooga. Complimentary yellow ribbons and bracelets will be handed out at the doors to the arena and there will be chances throughout the match to donate to Ali and her family.

MATCH SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 0, ETSU 3 (24-26, 17-25, 30-32)
RECORDS	Mercer 4-10, 0-1 SoCon; ETSU 7-5, 1-0 SoCon
ARENA	Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

MATCH REPLAY
SET 1 I 24-26	Both squads exchanged points in the first set until the Buccaneers started to slightly pull away at the 5-8 mark. Sophia Henry recorded a kill and then went on a three-point service run to even the score 9-9. Mercer tied it up again at the 24-24 mark after a huge block from Avery Martin and Sammi Bergjans but ETSU was able to capitalize off a few Mercer errors to take set one.
SET 2 I 17-25	ETSU carried the momentum into set three after taking a 4-0 lead over Mercer. The Buccaneers did not let the Bears come within three points for the remainder of the set, forcing a must-win third set for the Bears.
SET 3 I 30-32	Mercer took the challenge and fought hard for the third set with 22 tie scores and 12 lead changes. Sammi Bergjans went on a five-point service run to take the 25-24 lead but ultimately the Buccaneers were able to stick out the set and win the match 3-0 in the first conference match of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
KILLS	Sophia Henry (11), Avery Wilks (5), Lara Matta, Charlotte Thompson, Olivia Elliott, Destiny Nelson (3)
ASSISTS	Sammi Bergjans (12), Jessica Dunn (10), Aubri Martin (4)
DIGS	Aubri Martin (130, Sammi Bergjans (11), Jessica Dunn (7)
BLOCKS	Avery Wilks (6), Joselynn Sanjurjo, Olivia Elliott, Sammi Bergjans (2)
SERVICE ACES	Sophia Henry (3), Sarah Frager (2), Sammi Bergjans, Aubri Martin (1)

UP NEXT

Mercer returns to Hawkins Arena on Friday, Sept. 26 for their Yellow Game as they raise love and support for Ali Waldon, who us currently battling osteosarcoma. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Hawkins Arena against the Mocs of Chattanooga. Complimentary yellow ribbons and bracelets will be handed out at the doors to the arena and there will be chances throughout the match to donate to Ali and her family.

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