GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team will conclude its 2024 regular season schedule on the road at Samford on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT / 7:30 p.m. ET and Mercer on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
 

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG dropped its final home matches of the season with losses to Chattanooga (1-3) and Western Carolina (0-3).
• Allie Sweet led the Spartans with 40 kills and added three service aces and 22 digs on the week.
• Sweet averaged 5.71 kills per set and 3.14 digs per set across seven sets, while posting her third double-double of the season and her career against Western Carolina with 23 kills and 13 digs.
• Izora Gragg led the Spartans as the setter with 64 assists for a 9.14 assists per set average. The sophomore added 18 digs and 3.0 total bocks on the week.
• Chloe Nussbaum led the team as the libero with 31 digs, averaging 4.43 digs per set.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• UNCG enters the week with a 7-19 overall record and a 2-12 mark in The Southern Conference (SoCon).
• Sweet is leading the conference across six statistical categories: attacks per set (13.73), kills per set (4.30), points (465.5), points per set (4.85), total attacks (1,318) and total kills (413).
• The freshman's attacks per set puts her at second nationally and third in total attacks. In addition, she is 18^th in the country in kills. 
• Sweet earned her second SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. She previously earned the recognition on Sept. 2 in the first round of weekly awards for the 2024 season.
• Nussbaum is leading the Spartans as the libero with 393 digs.
• Gragg stands out as the setter for the squad with 894 assists this season.
• 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 SAMFORD

• The Bulldogs come into Friday's matchup against the Spartans with a 13-11 overall record and are 7-7 in the SoCon, ranking fifth in the conference standings.
• Samford dropped both its matches last week, first at Furman (0-3) and at Mercer (0-3).
• The Bulldogs are third overall in the conference with a 1.60 aces per set average and a 11.91 assists per set average.
• Lexi Thatcher is leading the league and is 28^th in the country with a 10.45 assists per set average.
• Kaleigh Meritt stands out on the outside for the team with 317 kills.
• Kate Wonus is the leading middle blocker with 73.0 total blocks.
• 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 conclude its 2024 regular season by hosting The Citadel on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. CT / 6:00 p.m. ET.

 
SERIES HISTORY VS SAMFORD
The Bulldogs lead the Spartans all time series at 23-10. The Spartans took the previous meeting with the Bulldogs this season, 3-1, on Oct. 19 in Greensboro.

SCOUTING MERCER

• The Bears currently sit atop the SoCon with a 22-5 overall record and a 12-2 mark in league play.
• Mercer split its matches last week after falling to Furman in Greenville, South Carolina, 1-3, but returning home to defeat Samford, 3-0.
• The Bears are leading the conference in three categories: aces per set (2.25), win-loss percentage (81.5) and team service aces (227). Mercer is ranked third nationally in service aces.
• Brooke Phillips is a big part of the team's service aces as she leads the league in aces per set (0.63) and service aces (64).
• Phillips also stands out as the setter, coming in at second in the conference with 976 assists.
• Skye Ekes is the second-best outside hitter in the SoCon with 375 kills.
• MeMe Davis is the best libero on the squad with 489 digs.
• Mercer was picked to finish third in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote.
• Skyler Bumpers was also tabbed to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Mercer will host Wofford on Friday at 6:00 p.m. before concluding the regular season with the Spartans on Saturday.

 
SERIES HISTORY VS MERCER
The Spartans lead in the overall series against the Bears at 13-10. Mercer claimed the most recent matchup this season, 3-1, on Oct. 18 in Greensboro.

PURCHASE UNCG GEAR 
Click here for your one-stop shop for all of your official UNCG merchandise! From apparel to accessories, there is something for everyone!

UP NEXT
The Spartans and the rest of the SoCon teams will learn their fate in the 2024 SoCon Tournament following the conclusion of all regular season games on Saturday. 

The 2024 SoCon volleyball tournament, originally slated for Asheville, North Carolina, will be contested on Nov. 21-24 at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, at the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.

The Tournament is set to begin on Nov. 21 with one first round game, with the two lowest seeds competing. The quarterfinals will follow on Nov. 22, semifinals on Nov. 23 and then the championship on Nov. 24.