FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Parker, kparker@uscupstate.edu

Box Score (PDF)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate volleyball team (11-17, 6-10 A-Sun) dropped a 3-0 decision to Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Mercer (10-17, 6-11 A-Sun) Tuesday inside the Hodge Center for Upstate's Dig Pink Night by scores of 25-17, 25-16 and 25-17.

The Spartans were led by sophomore Kayla McAvoy (Boiling Springs, S.C.), tallying a match-high 14 kills. Freshman Kaya Eversgerd (Breese, Ill.) was second on the team with eight kills to go along with nine digs. Freshman Shannon Weiss (Highland, Ill.) helped with seven kills, while classmate Jaina Jackson (Huntley, Ill.) added five kills.

Upstate senior Emily Sanders (Sullivan, Ill.) paced a quartet of Spartans collecting double-digit digs, posting 15. Freshman Lexi Gober (Edwardsville, Ill.) recorded her 10th double-double of the season, handing out 29 assists and scooping up 13 digs. Junior Morgan Page (Woodstock,Ga.) and Weiss each gathered 12 digs for the Spartans.

Mercer was led by Molly Locke with 11 kills, while Caroline Carlton was second on the squad with eight kills to go along with three assisted blocks. Jennifer Katona added seven kills and posted two blocks, while Charlayna Braxton registered a match-high four rejections.

Monica Sanchez anchored the Bear offense, dishing out a match-high 35 assists, while completing the double-double with 11 digs. Emily Rochefort led all passers on the night, collecting 25 digs. Jamie Duffy helped the Mercer defense, recording 12 digs to go along with six kills.

The Spartans return to action Thursday, traveling to Savannah State for a 6 p.m. match before heading to Jacksonville, Fla., to face A-Sun opponents Jacksonville Friday and North Florida Saturday. Follow Upstate volleyball this season on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.