Mercer's Brittany Major
Mercer Athletics
Mercer's Brittany Major

Volleyball

Mercer drops two in spring opener

Bears fall 3-1 to Western Kentucky and 3-0 to Bellarmine in nonconference action

BOWLING GREEN, KY. – The Mercer Bears dropped both matches in today's double-header against Western Kentucky and Bellarmine. The Black and Orange fell to the Hilltoppers, 1-3 and the Knights, 0-3.
 
 MERCER VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY
 
Set One (17-25) | Mercer kept the set close in the beginning against the Hilltoppers behind kills from Annie Karle, Taylor Lynch and Malia Randolph. The Bears largest deficit was eight points when Western Kentucky went on a 5-1 run. Brittany Major, Randolph, and Lynch helped Mercer claw their way back but it wasn't enough. The Hilltoppers would take the first set.
 
Set Two (12-25) | Lynch was the one to get the Bear's on the board to start the second set. Mercer would have a pair of 2-0 runs, the first behind kills from Karle and Randolph, while the second came from Rayanne de Oliveira and Major. Randolph and Jaida Howell would score the Bears' final two points of another Hilltopper set.
 
Set Three (26-24) | Mercer got off to a slow start in the third set falling to a four point deficit. The Bears were not going down without a fight. Randolph would start the first of five runs for the Bears that would put the Black and Orange within two. Sophomore Lexi Uhrhan added to the Mercer run with an ace. Major's service ace would give the Bears their first lead of the match, 19-18. The last run for the Bears would be a 4-0 run to end the set. Karle and Lynch led the run will a kill each and an ace from Karle. Mercer would send the match to a fourth set.
 
Set Four (9-25) Howell scored the Bears first three points in the fourth set. Randolph would tie the set a four apiece before the Hilltoppers took control. Karle and de Oliveira would score the rest of Mercer's points along with a couple of Western Kentucky errors. The Hilltoppers would take the match, 3-1.
 
MERCER VS. BELLARMINE

Set One (22-25) | It was back and forth battle between the Bears and the Knights. Major led the Bears with four kills in the set. Mercer's longest run would be a 4-0 run. During the run, the Black and Orange would have kills from Lynch, Howell and Major, as well as an ace from Major. The Bears and he knights would trade points, but the Knights would go on a 3-0 run to take the set.
 
Set Two (14-25) | Mercer would open the second set with a kill from Major. Both teams would trade points before Bellarmine would go on a 10 point run. Karle would start and end a 3-0 run for the Bears followed by a kill from Howell. It wouldn't be enough as the Bears would fall to the Knight in the second set.
 
Set Three (18-25) | The Bears would start the third set taking seven of the first nine points. Three attack errors from the Knights would give Mercer their first three points. Howell would earn Mercer's first kill, followed by de Oliviera and Karle before Bellarmine would take a timeout. The Knights would go on a late 7-0 run late in the set to take the match.
 
NOTABLES
  • Five Bears were in double-digit kills today. Karle led with 19, followed by Howell (15), Lynch (13), Major (10) and Randolph (10). 
  • Agnieska Paskevic registered 28 assists, while Lynch registered 13 kills in their respective Mercer debuts.
  • Lynch and Howell led the Black and Orange in block assists with four apiece.
 
UP NEXT
Mercer will come home to host Samford for a two game series on January 31 and February 1 in Hawkins Arena. Sunday's match is set for 3 p.m., while Monday's Dig Orange night is set for 6 p.m.