GREENSBORO, N.C. –  The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team is set to begin The Southern Conference (SoCon) 2023 schedule with a road trip down south. The Spartans will take on Samford on Friday, Sept. 22 for an 8 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. CST start. The squad will then head up the road to Macon, Ga. to face Mercer on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.
 

Who: at Samford When: Friday, Sept. 22 Where: Birmingham, Ala. | Pete Hanna Center Time: 8 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. CST Tickets: $5/adult, $3/child, $3/group Live Stats | ESPN+

Who: at Mercer When: Saturday, Sept. 23 Where: Macon Ga. | Hawkins Arena Time: 6 p.m. Tickets: Admission is Free Live Stats | ESPN+

 
Quick Hitters for the Spartans

• UNCG heads into SoCon action with a 1-10 non-conference record.
• Head Coach Felicia Turner gained her first win as a head coach on Friday, Sept. 8 with a 3-0 sweep over USC Upstate at the Black & Gold Classic, hosted by App State.
• The Blue & Gold most recently competed in its home opener with the Spartan Tri-Match last Friday, Sept 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16. The squad welcomed in Charlotte and UNC Asheville.
• Both matches against the Niners and Bulldogs were very close and competitive with both being brought to five sets. However, they would both eventually go the way for the visiting teams.
• Aylin Baran led the Spartans on the offensive end last week with 47 kills over 10 sets played for a 4.70 kills per set average.
• In Saturday's match against UNC Asheville, Baran led UNCG by notching a new career high of 27 kills. This was the first time since 2012 a Spartan posted 27 or more kills in a match. The freshman's 27 kills on Saturday leaves her tied at seventh in kills per match in UNCG volleyball history. 
• Baran leads the squad with 110 kills over the non-conference schedule.
• Izora Gragg led UNCG as the setter last weekend with 54 assists over 10 sets for a 5.40 assists per set average. Gragg notched a new career high of 31 assists in Saturday's match against UNC Asheville.
• Madeline Timmerman led UNCG on the defensive end with 18 digs and 8.0 total blocks over 10 sets last weekend. Timmerman recorded 6.0 blocks in Friday's five set match to Charlotte. The junior transfer leads the Spartans with 16 service aces on the season.
• Mallory Meers and Gragg tag team as setters this season. Meers leads with 197 assists and Gragg follows closely behind with 102 assists on the season.
• Mya Wood with 122 digs and Daija Jackson with 17.0 blocks lead UNCG overall on the defensive end this season.

Scouting Samford
Samford heads into SoCon action with a 5-7 non-conference record. The Bulldogs most recently competed at the Alabama Showdown, hosted by South Alabama. The squad lost in straight sets to South Alabama and in four to No. 24 Auburn.

The Bulldogs' outside hitter Gracie Lynn Butler was most recently named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after totaling 50 kills and 28 digs over three matches last week. Butler leads Samford with 198 kills and 17 service aces on the season. Lexi Thatcher leads the Bulldogs as the setter this season with 406 assists. Kate Morgan with 158 digs and Kate Wonus with 35.0 blocks stand out for the team on the defensive end.

Samford leads in the overall series against UNCG at 21-9. The Bulldogs and Spartans met twice last season, once in Greensboro and once in Birmingham. Samford won both matches in straight sets. UNCG last defeated Samford on Oct. 1, 2021 (3-0) in Fleming Gymnasium.

Scouting Mercer
The Bears head into SoCon action 4-7 overall. Mercer will take on Wofford at home on Friday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. before facing UNCG in Hawkins Arena. The Bears' most recently defeated Bethune-Cookman (3-0) for a neutral site match in Statesboro, Ga. All four of the Bears wins this season have come in straight sets.

Kylee Quigley leads Mercer in kills and service aces this season with 89 and 15, respectively. Kierra McCarles leads the team with 158 assists and Jessica Dunn follows closely behind with 114 assists for the setting duo. Abby Havrilla with 132 digs and Skyler Bumpers with 35.0 blocks leads Mercer on the defensive end.
 
The Spartans lead in the overall series against the Bears at 12-8. UNCG claimed both away and home matches against Mercer last season. The first coming in straight sets in Greensboro and the most recent matchup being claimed in five sets in Macon, Ga.

Up Next
The Spartans will continue conference action at ETSU on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m., followed by a home conference matchup to Chattanooga on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.