GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Spartans welcome defending Southern Conference Champions, Samford Bulldogs, to Fleming on Friday, Oct. 1 to continue their conference slate. On Saturday, they welcome runners-up, Mercer Bears.
 
 
SPARTAN ESSENTIALS
WHO: Samford (3-10, 2-0)
WHERE: Fleming Gym | Greensboro, N.C.
WHEN: Friday, October 1 | 6 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stats Link
WATCH: ESPN+
 
SPARTAN ESSENTIALS
WHO: Mercer (5-8, 1-1)
WHERE: Fleming Gym | Greensboro, N.C.
WHEN: Saturday, October 2 | 5 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stats Link
WATCH: ESPN+
 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• After being picked to finish last, UNCG is heading into SoCon play at the top of the conference.  The 13-2 Spartans have already had a record-breaking season.
• As a team, UNCG sits at the top of all statistical categories except service aces, where they are second.
• UNCG is fifth nationally in team digs (951), 11th in digs per set (17.84), 10th in team attacks per set (38.78), 11th in team kills (753), 14th in team service aces (99) and ninth in total team attacks (2133).
• Gabriela McHugh is first in the Southern Conference and third in division one for total assists this season. Through 15 matches, the junior has a total of 587 assists. She eclipsed the 2,000 assists mark in her career during the second set in the 3-0 win over Chattanooga.
• Kayla White earned her second straight Offensive Player of the Week for the competitions played from September 20-26.  
• Middle hitter Hannah Knier is third in the SoCon with a .298 hitting percentage (106-27-265). She is also fourth in blocks with an average of 1.08 per set.

 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

• Kayla Keshock has totaled 423 assists while averaging 9.61 assists per set to rank 3rd in the Southern Conference. In Samford's 2-0 start to SoCon play, Keshock recorded 31 assists versus Wofford and tied her season-high with 46 against The Citadel.
• Kenya McQuirter and Lauren Deaton enter the weekend ranked 3rd and 6th respectively in the SoCon in kills to lead the Bulldogs. McQuirter has totaled 160 while Deaton has 113.
• The Bulldogs were an overwhelming favorite to repeat as SoCon champions in the annual Preseason Coaches Poll. Samford received six first place votes and 62 poll points to take the top spot. The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 3-10 overall record (2-0 conference).
• Samford enters the week ranked 4th overall in the Southern Conference with a .198 hitting percentage.

SCOUTING THE BEARS

• Taylor Lynch leads the Bears with 124 kills. Set a career-high of 22 kills against New Hampshire on Aug. 27^th. Lynch was named the Bears Classic All-Tournament MVP.
• Agnieska Paskevic leads with 346 assists. Paskevic set a career and match high of 44 assists against North Carolina A& T on Sep. 11th; Paskevic also recorded her first career block.
• Rayanne de Oliveira leads blocks (32).
• Megan Smith leads with 199 digs. Smith set a new match-high of 32 digs in the match against Murray State on Aug. 28th.
• Brittany Major was named to the All- Tournament team in the Georgia Southern Tournament (21 kills, 10 digs, four blocks).
• Lexi Uhrhan leads the Bears with 20 service aces. Uhrhan set a career/match high five aces against The Citadel (09/24/2021).