Friday, February 20
Tampa, Fla.
9 a.m.
Mercer University
at
Tampa
Beach Volleyball Opens 2026 Season At Sandy Spartan Showdown
2/19/2026 12:30:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
MACON – Mercer will open its 15th season of intercollegiate beach volleyball this weekend when the Bears travel to Tampa, Fla. to compete in the Sandy Spartan Showdown at the UT Beach Volleyball Complex.Â
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The Bears will open up their portion of play Friday at 9 a.m. against the host Spartans, and close out day-one action against Saint Leo at 1 p.m. Saturday's slate has the Orange & Black battling Barry at 9 a.m., and closing out their stay in Tampa against Saint Leo at 11 a.m.
Picked to finish fifth in the race for the 2026 Sun Belt Conference regular season crown in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches last week, the Bears are coming off of a record-breaking 2025 season with the best start in program history and the most single-season dual wins with 24.
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The Bears have a fairly young team this season with six new freshmen and just three seniors. Mercer returns two key players in Hollis Engel and Grace Rathburn who combined for 36 wins on the season.
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Following this weekend's action, the Bears will head back down to Florida the following weekend to play in the Stetson Spring Fling at Cooper Beach Volleyball Complex in DeLand on Feb. 27-28.
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The Bears will open up their portion of play Friday at 9 a.m. against the host Spartans, and close out day-one action against Saint Leo at 1 p.m. Saturday's slate has the Orange & Black battling Barry at 9 a.m., and closing out their stay in Tampa against Saint Leo at 11 a.m.
Picked to finish fifth in the race for the 2026 Sun Belt Conference regular season crown in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches last week, the Bears are coming off of a record-breaking 2025 season with the best start in program history and the most single-season dual wins with 24.
Â
The Bears have a fairly young team this season with six new freshmen and just three seniors. Mercer returns two key players in Hollis Engel and Grace Rathburn who combined for 36 wins on the season.
Â
Following this weekend's action, the Bears will head back down to Florida the following weekend to play in the Stetson Spring Fling at Cooper Beach Volleyball Complex in DeLand on Feb. 27-28.
Players Mentioned
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
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