GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNCG volleyball fell to visiting Mercer on Monday night, dropping a decision in under five sets for the first time in 2021.

Mercer struck first, jumping out to a 9-1 lead in the opening set, but the Spartans wouldn't let that advantage last for long. Coach Carlin's side went on a 11-2 run of their own, building off a pair of aces from Mandy Garvens and three Camille Anderson kills. UNCG held off the Bears at the back end of the frame, with Stephanie Meysembourg adding three straight aces of her own. Anderson led all hitters with five kills in the first set, giving the home team a 25-21 win to start the evening. 

The Spartans took the momentum into set two by jumping into a 3-0 lead, but this time it would be the Bears turn to claw their way back ahead, taking a seven-point lead on a 12-2 run. The Bears maintained their lead through to the end of the set, despite an impressive showing from senior Maria Esch. The outside hitter registered five of her team's seven kills in the frame while adding a service ace, hitting .556 over the course of a set that ended 25-14 in favor of the visitors.

Mercer hit the ground running in the third, getting out to a 10-2 lead. The Bears held the Spartans to seven kills for a second straight set and just 13 points in a 25-13 final. Grey Breen tallied a pair of those kills, along with a block, during the frame, but the Spartans were held to a -.097 attacking percentage in the set. 

UNCG held off the Bears for the majority of the fourth with the Spartans looking destined to force another five-set contest. Trailing 15-11, Mercer made yet another comeback to tie things at 16-all however, going on to take nine of the final 11 points for a 25-18 set four victory. Anderson added another four kills in the fourth to bring her total to an even 10, but it wasn't enough to force what would have been a fourth consecutive five-set contest for the Spartans. 

>> Esch completed her night's double-double during the fourth set, finishing with 11 kills and 12 digs. She's registered double-digit kills and digs in all four of the Spartans' matches thus far
>> Gabriela McHugh finished with a match-high 25 sets on the night. Her 13 digs gave the sophomore her third double-double of the season, adding four blocks in the process
>> The Spartans had a season-high three solo blocks on the night, two of which came from sophomore hitter Hannah Knier

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