SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The No. 9 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team dropped a very competitive 3-0 contest with No. 1 Mercer (23-25, 21-25, 16-25) on Friday in the quarterfinal round of The Southern Conference (SoCon) Tournament at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
 
The Spartans' season ended with the loss to the Bears on Friday.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Kills from Emily Hanlon and Cece Fitz gave UNCG the 2-0 lead to start the match. With the Spartans on top, 7-4, the Bears notched a 5-1 run to take their first lead of the game, 9-8. Mercer maintained control until the Spartans later produced six consecutive points, regaining the lead, 17-15. The remainder of the game went back-and-forth until Mercer produced a 5-0 run to take the 24-20 lead. The Spartans were able to hold the Bears from coming away with set one for three consecutive rallies. However, Mercer finally secured set one, 25-23, with a kill from Sophia Henry.
 
After Mercer got on the board first in set two, the Spartans regained their momentum with kills from Hanlon and Allie Sweet for the 3-1 lead. UNCG maintained the advantage until mid-set when the Bears took their first lead of set two, 13-12. The second frame remained close and tied on several occasions. However, two final points from the Bears gave the team set two, 25-21, for the 2-0 match lead.
 
Set three was a close battle in the early going. With UNCG up 6-4, the Bears sparked a 5-0 run to take a 9-6 advantage and held the lead for the remainder of the final frame. Three consecutive points from Mercer gave the squad game three, 25-16, for the 3-0 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Fitz paced the squad at the net with three blocks.
• Sweet led the team with 10 digs.
• McKenna Timmerman led the Spartans with 11 kills.
• Izora Gragg led the way as the setter with 21 assists.
• Three Spartans collected one service ace apiece. 

RECORDS
UNCG: 8-22, 2-14 SoCon
Mercer: 25-5, 14-2 SoCon

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