Bears Pick Up First Win Of Season Against Barry, Fall To Tampa, Saint Leo

Friday, February 20

Tampa, Fla.

9 a.m.

Mercer University

Tampa

Bears Pick Up First Win Of Season Against Barry, Fall To Tampa, Saint Leo

2/21/2026 2:23:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

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

TAMPA, Fla.. – The Mercer beach volleyball team picked up its first win of the 2026 season against Barry but fell to Tampa and Saint Leo over the weekend in the Sandy Spartan Showdown in Tampa at the UT Beach Volleyball Complex.

Mercer opened up play on Friday, Feb. 20 against host Spartans where they fell 5-0 in the season opener. Pair two of Kristi Talocka and Jordyn Thomas-Warren took the first set 21-19 but Tampa fought back to take the win 2-1. Later that same day the Bears returned to the sand to face Saint Leo in an afternoon matchup. The Lions defeated the Bears 5-0 with pairs one through three into three sets.

The Orange & Black returned for the second day of play on Saturday, Feb. 21 to face Barry coming away with a 4-1 win. Pair one in Talocka and Thomas-Warren dominated 21-12 and 21-14 with pair two Hollis Engel and Riley Milner won their sets 23-21 and 21-13. Duos of Finley Kenney/Grace Rathburn and Maddie Lee/Carly Lenhardt both picked up wins in the victory.

Mercer's final contest of the weekend came against Saint Leo on Saturday morning following the Barry match resulting in a 4-1 loss for the Bears. Rathburn/Talocka picked up the lone win for Mercer in the match 21-15 and 21-16 in the second slot.

The Orange & Black will be back on the road next weekend in DeLand, Fla. to play in the Stetson Spring Fling on Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 at the Cooper Beach Volleyball Complex. The Bears will face College of Charleston, Eckerd, Stetson and Jacksonville over the course of two days.