September 2, 2010

Volleyball Primed to Host Bear Brawl

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer volleyball team hosts the sixth annual Bear Brawl on Friday and Saturday, welcoming Presbyterian College, UT Martin and the Citadel to the University Center.  Mercer and Presbyterian get the action started at 1 p.m. Friday.

Click here for a complete schedule of the 2010 Bear Brawl

Last Time Out

Mercer traveled to Auburn to challenge the Tigers on Wednesday night in a mid-week non-conference test.  Junior hitters Rachel Urbelis and Amiee Frutchey each had seven kills and the Bears out-blocked the host Tigers, but Auburn claimed a 3-0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-14) win.

Scouting the Opposition

 

Presbyterian

The Blue Hose enters the Bear Brawl with a 0-1 (0-0 Big South) record after falling at Furman in its season opener.

Redshirt senior Kilee Ruppe tallied 24 assists and two solo blocks against the Paladins.

Presbyterian returns every starter from last year’s team that finished 12-19 (7-9 Big South).

Friday afternoon’s matchup is just the second meeting all-time between the teams. Mercer captured a 3-1 win over Presbyterian on Sept. 5, 2008.

UT Martin

The Skyhawks come to Macon seeking their first win of 2010 after falling to Georgia Southern, Auburn and Troy.

Sophomore Kelly Hogan paces UT Martin with 26 kills.

The Skyhawks return every starter from last year’s squad that finished 8-21 (2-16 OVC).

UT Martin leads the all-time series between the teams, 2-1. The last time the teams met, Mercer swept the Skyhawks on Sept. 9, 1994.

The Citadel

The Citadel (0-4, 0-0 SoCon) is winless after most recently falling at Charleston Southern in five sets.

Senior outside hitter Tatum Jestila tops the Bulldogs with 35 kills in 14 sets (2.50 k/s).

The Bulldogs return six starters from last year’s team that finished 8-25 (2-13 SoCon).

Mercer and the Citadel have never met on the volleyball court.