Volleyball Drops First Match Against Western Carolina

Thursday, October 22

Cullowhee, N.C.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

13-9,7-3SoCon

Western Carolina

8-15,4-6SoCon

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Mercer	23	23	15	0
Western Caro.	25	25	25	3

10/22/2026 9:00:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Ben Kinealy, kinealy_ben@mercer.edu

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Mercer Volleyball fell to the Western Carolina Catamounts in three sets on Thursday.

The Bears struggled to generate consistent momentum throughout the match and fell short late in the first two sets while trying to mount a comeback. Despite limited appearances, freshman Mikayla Miessler did set a new career-best in service aces with three.

MATCH SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	Mercer 0, Western Carolina 3 (23-25, 23-25, 15-25)
RECORDS	Mercer 13-9, 7-3 SoCon; Western Carolina 8-15, 4-6 SoCon
ARENA	Liston B. Ramsey Center (Cullowhee, N.C.)

MATCH REPLAY
SET 1 I 23-25	The Bears came out strong to take the first two points of the match before Western Carolina responded with three straight. Mercer regained the lead and held the momentum early, but the Catamounts went on a five-point run to go up 14-11. The Bears strung together four points to tie the set at 17, but Western Carolina didn't relinquish the lead for the rest of the set to take a 25-23 victory.
SET 2 I 23-25	The Catamounts held the advantage early, but Mercer went on a four-point run to go up 6-5 to start the second set. The match remained close until the Bears put together five straight points to go up 13-10, but the Catamounts responded with three-points of their own to tie the set. Both teams exchanged points until Mercer had a 21-20 lead before Western Carolina went on a three-point run to go up 23-21.
SET 3 I 15-25	The Bears and Catamounts kept the close battle going for the start of the third set, but when Western Carolina had a 13-11 lead, the Catamounts, put together six-straight points to go up 19-11. Mercer attempted to fight back, but it was too little, too late, as Western Carolina took the final set 25-15.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
KILLS	Joselynn Sanjurjo (7), Taylor Timko (6), Lara Matta (6)
ASSISTS	Sammi Bergjans (21), Sarah Frager (6), Taylor Timko (1)
DIGS	Lara Matta (10), Sarah Frager (9), Sammi Bergjans (8)
BLOCKS	Avery Wilks (1), Lara Matta (1), Bella Pons (1)
SERVICE ACES	Mikayla Miessler (3), Sammi Bergjans (2)