Volleyball left in battle for tournament spot

The Mercer women’s volleyball team has dropped four of their last five matches, pitting them in a race against three other teams for a spot in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.
In the first match, the Bears lost a thrilling match in four sets (17-25, 25-23, 18-25, 19-25) to conference rival Jacksonville.
Freshman Molly Locke and sophomore Caroline Carlton paced the Bears and knocked down 12 kills apiece in the match. Senior middle blockers, Jenn Katona and Charlayna Braxton each contributed seven kills against the Dolphins.
Senior Jamie Duffy led the team with 17 digs while junior libero Emily Rochefort was not far behind contributing 15 digs of her own. Molly Locke chipped in 11 herself, adding yet another double-double to her tally this season. Senior Codi Schepp contributed 10 digs in the losing effort.
Senior setter Monica Sanchez dished out 42 assists in the match.
After the disappointing loss, the Bears set their sights on another conference foe. The Ospreys from the University of North Florida traveled to Hawkins Arena to take on the Orange and Black. Unfortunately, the Bears dropped the match in three straight sets (20-25, 23-25, 21-25).
Sophomore Carolina Carlton led the team in kills with 13. Freshman Molly Locke knocked down 12 kills in the match.
Junior Emily Rochefort led the team with 30 digs while seniors Jamie Duffy and Monica Sanchez contributed 15 and 11 respectively.
Monica Sanchez dished out 30 assists against the University of North Florida.
The match against North Florida also served as senior night to honor Charlayna Braxton, Jamie Duffy, Monica Sanchez, Codi Schepp, Jenn Katona, and Madison Petsos for their service to Mercer University prior to the game.
The Bears then traveled to the state of Kentucky to take on the Norse of Northern Kentucky University. Again the Orange and Black lost the match in three sets (21-25, 16-25, 21-25).
Offensively, the Bears were quite quiet with not a single player reaching double-digit kills against the Norse.
Senior Codi Schepp led the team with nine kills while sophomore Caroline Carlton added eight kills.
Defensively, the Bears were not able to keep much from hitting the floor. Not a single player reached double-digit digs for the first time all season. Emily Rochefort led the team with eight.
Monica Sanchez contributed 27 assists in the match.
After two straight three set losses, the Bears hoped to turn things around, but they could not find any fire power against powerhouse Lipscomb. The Bears lost once again in three straight sets (11-25, 17-25, 18-25).
Once again the Bears did not contribute much offensively and defensively as not a single player reached double-digit kills, digs, or assists.
After three losses, the Bears were finally able to dish out what they had been receiving against USC Upstate by defeating them in three straight sets (25-17, 25-16, 25-17).
Molly Locke stepped her game up and knocked down 11 kills while Caroline Carlton contributed 8 in the match.
Emily Rochefort was able to contribute 25 digs in the win while Jamie Duffy and Monica Sanchez contributed 12 and 11 respectively.
Sanchez was also able to dish out 35 assists in the match.
The Bears now see themselves in a must win situation going into their final match of the season. The team faces off against in-state rival Kennesaw State on Thursday Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in Hawkins Arena.