GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team will continue The Southern Conference (SoCon) schedule by hosting Mercer on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and Samford on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in Fleming Gym.
 

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG went 1-1 last weekend after claiming its first SoCon win this season at Western Carolina, 3-1, on Friday, but falling at Chattanooga, 3-1, on Saturday.
• Izora Gragg led the Spartans as the setter by posting back-to-back double-doubles in both matches. The sophomore recorded a total of 90 assists, four kills, two service aces, 24 digs and 3.0 total blocks on the week.
• Gragg's 51 assists in the team's win over Western Carolina Friday night granted her 1,000 career assists, becoming the ninth player in UNCG program history to reach the milestone.
• Emily Hanlon stood out for the Spartans after recording 30 kills and adding 7.0 total blocks on the week with 5.0 of those coming in the team's match at Chattanooga alone.
• Chloe Nussbaum led the team as the libero after recording 28 digs, while notching a 3.50 digs per set average on the week.

 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• UNCG enters the weekend with a 6-12 overall record and 1-5 mark in conference play.
• Freshman standout Allie Sweet is pacing the SoCon across six statistical categories: attacks per set (13.41), kills per set (4.32), points (334.0), points per set (4.84), total attacks (925) and total kills (298).
• In addition, Sweet's attacks per set, total attacks and total kills puts her in the top-10 nationally.
• Gragg is ranked second in the SoCon and 20^th in the country with 687 assists. 
• As a team, the Spartans are third in the conference with 138.0 total blocks.
• Madeline Timmerman leads the squad in the middle with 60.0 total blocks.
• Nussbaum also stands out defensively with 257 digs this season.
• Sweet was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2 in the first round of weekly awards for the 2024 season.
• The Spartans currently sit at ninth place in the SoCon standings.
• Head Coach Felicia Turner is in her second season at the helm of the UNCG volleyball team in 2024. 
• Assistant Coach Trent Dunahoo is in his second season with the Spartans, while Assistant Coach Justin Paggao was added to the coaching staff in the summer of 2024.
• UNCG was picked to finish ninth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The 2024 squad features seven returners and 10 newcomers (five freshmen and five transfers).

 
SCOUTING MERCER

• The Bears currently sit at third place in the SoCon with a 14-4 overall record and 4-1 in conference.
• Most recently, Mercer took its first SoCon loss at Samford, 3-1 on Thursday, but returned to Macon on Saturday to defeat Furman in straight sets.
• As a team, the Bears are pacing are the SoCon in three categories: aces per set (2.30), match win-loss percentage (.778) and team service aces (161).
• Brooke Phillips leads the league in aces per set with a 0.70 average and service aces with 49.
• Phillips' 49 aces this season puts her at second in the country.
• In addition, Phillips paces the Bears as the setter with 648 assists.
• Skyler Bumpers leads the squad with 259 kills and 50.0 total blocks.
• MeMe Davis stands out as the best passer on the team with 308 total digs.
• Mercer was picked to finish third in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.
• Bumpers was also tabbed to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• The Bears will continue their SoCon road trip by heading to Spartanburg to face Wofford on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

 
SERIES HISTORY VS MERCER
The Spartans lead in the overall series against the Bears at 13-9. Mercer took both matches from UNCG last season in straight sets.
 
SCOUTING SAMFORD

• The Bulldogs are in second place in the SoCon with an 11-5 overall record and 5-1 in conference.
• Samford went 2-0 in conference play last weekend after defeating Mercer and Furman, 3-1, in Birmingham.
• Lexi Thatcher is leading the SoCon with a 10.30 assists per set average.
• Kaleigh Meritt is pacing the squad on the outside with 227 kills.
• Kate Morgan leads the Bulldogs with 27 service aces and 241 digs.
• Kate Wonus is pacing the team at the net with 47.0 total blocks.
• The only conference loss the Bulldogs have taken this season was in their SoCon opener at Wofford, 3-0.
• Samford was picked to finish second in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.
• Gracie Lynn Butler and Meritt were both selected to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Samford will face The Citadel on Friday at 5:00 p.m. in Charleston, South Carolina before coming to Greensboro.

 
SERIES HISTORY VS SAMFORD
The Bulldogs lead the Spartans all time at 23-9. Samford defeated UNCG in both meetings last season in four sets.

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UP NEXT
The Spartans will begin their second round of SoCon play next week by visiting Furman on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6:00 p.m. and then returning to Greensboro to take on ETSU on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 5:00 p.m.
 
Saturday will be the team's Camper Reunion match. In addition, the first 50 fans will receive a FREE cookie from Insomnia!