Who: vs. Mercer When: Friday, September 23 Where: Greensboro, N.C. | Fleming Gym Time: 7:00 p.m. Live Stats | ESPN+

Who: vs. Samford When: Saturday, September 24 Where: Greensboro, N.C. | Fleming Gym Time: 5:00 p.m. Live Stats | ESPN+

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team returns to Fleming Gym for the first time since Tuesday, September 6 for back-to-back matches. These will be the Southern Conference (SoCon) openers.
 
The Spartans will host Mercer on Friday, September 23, and follow that up with Samford on Saturday, September 24.
 
The Spartans are 6-7 heading into the weekend. The Bears are 4-8 overall, while the Bulldogs are 5-7 thus far.
 
LAST TIME OUT

• The Spartans fell 3-0 in three-straight matches to Montana, College of Charleston, and Charleston Southern at the Chucktown Throwdown, hosted by the Buccaneers.
• Taylor Robertson had double-digit kills during all three matches.

TOURNAMENT AWARDS

• At the Spartan-Aggie Tournament (August 26-27), Mya Wood and Gabriela McHugh were named to the All-Tournament Team.
• Following the Tussle in the Triad Tournament (September 2-3), Taylor Robertson and Ella Voegele earned the honors.
• Robertson and Voegele also were named to the All-Tournament Team after the Aggie/Phoenix Volley for Unity Tournament.
• Robertson was most recently named to the Chucktown Throwdown All-Tournament Team.

SOCON PRESEASON POLL
UNCG was voted to finish sixth in the Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Release
 
Gabriela McHugh, who was on the All-Conference first team last season, was voted to the Preseason All-Conference team.
 
FRESH FACES
The Spartans added seven new faces to the roster this season.
Volleyball Signs One on National Signing Day
Volleyball Adds Five to 2022 Roster
 
SCOUTING MERCER

• The Bears were picked to finish fourth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Annie Karle was selected for the Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Karle leads the teams in kills this season and was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week. She is averaging 3.84 kills per set.
• Jaida Howell and Lillian Beardsley are second and third with 2.69 kills per set and 2.24 kills per set, respectively.
• Kiera McCarles is leading the team with 8.71 assists per set.
• Five Bears have double-digit service aces, including Karle (21), Beardsley (17), Lexi Uhrhan (12), Jaida Howell (11), and Abbey Havrilla (11).
• On defense, Paige Wagers is averaging 1.07 blocks per set.
• Uhrhan is also averaging 3.40 digs per set.

ALL-TIME HISTORY

• UNCG leads the all-time series 11-7.
• Mercer has won the last four matches.

SCOUTING SAMFORD

• Samford was picked second in the SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Lauren Deaton and Kenya McQuirter were named to the Preseason All-SoCon Team.
• The Bulldogs are coming off a 1-1 record at their own Samford Invite.
• They earned a 3-1 win over Murray State.
• McQuirter is averaging a team-leading 3.44 kills per set, while Deaton is averaging 3.18, good for second.
• Morgan Kate is averaging 0.49 service aces per set, as well as 4.11 digs per set to lead the Bulldogs, which leads the team and SoCon.
• Kayla Keshock leads the team and SoCon with 10.49 assists per set.
• Golden Greer is leading Samford with 0.71 blocks per set.

ALL-TIME HISTORY

• UNCG is 9-19 against the Bulldogs.
• The two teams split the series last year.