Match Highlights

Spartanburg, S.C. – Sophomore outside hitter Kayla Eversgerd and sophomore right side Shannon Weiss each recorded double-digit kills as the USC Upstate volleyball team defeated the Mercer Bears in straight sets, 3-0, Tuesday evening at the G.B. Hodge Center.

Eversgerd continued her solid offensive production tallying 14 kills, and adding six digs and three assists to the effort. Weiss produced 10 kills, on just one error, for a .429 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Lexi Gober compiled her eighth double-double of the season with 28 assists and 10 digs. Senior setter Amanda Carroll had a match-high 16 digs while senior libero Morgan Page, the reigning A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week, added 15.

A late run in the first set by Upstate propelled it to a 25-19 victory. The Spartans led by two early at 7-5 before Mercer scored the next five points. Cara Tripp's kill put the Bears ahead 14-10, but the Spartans answered with a 5-1 run to tie the set at 15. Upstate then reeled off five consecutive points to take a 19-15 lead, and held Mercer to just four more points en route to the set win.

The Spartans trailed twice in the opening points of the second set, but after three straight kills by Weiss, led 5-2. A kill from freshman middle blocker Emily Koelling increased Upstate's advantage to 10-5. Upstate held the lead for the next several points until the Bears tied the set at 18-18 following Eversgerd's attack error. The Spartans finished the set on a 7-2 run to win by a score of 25-20.

Upstate scored seven of the first nine points of the third set and led 7-2 following three consecutive attack errors by Mercer. The Bears, however, did not go away quietly and rallied to take a 19-15 lead after a bad set by Carroll. The Spartans staged another comeback thanks to back-to-back kills by Eversgerd and timely errors by Mercer. Trailing by four, Upstate went on a 7-1 run to take a 22-20 lead, but Mercer tied the set at 22-22. The Spartans regained the lead at 24-22 after consecutive kills by Weiss and freshman outside hitter Alexa Lagaly. Zoe Becton's kill cut the Bears' deficit to 24-23, but Lagaly ended things with her kill to give Upstate the 25-23 victory.

Caroline Carlton led all Mercer players with 10 kills.

The Spartans return to action Friday, Oct. 18 when they travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to face North Florida at 7 p.m.

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