DeLand, Fla. ? Senior libero Melanie Boyer (New Holland, Ill.) had 15 digs in the Stetson volleyball team's 25-22, 25-12, 18-25, 25-7 loss to Mercer Friday night at the Edmunds Center.  The loss drops the Hatters to 4-19 overall and 1-14 in Atlantic Sun Conference play while the Bears (whose orange and black colors were quite appropriate for Halloween Night) improved to 16-7 (11-4 A-Sun).

After hanging tough in the first set and getting overwhelmed in the second stanza, Stetson staved off the sweep by winning the third set 25-18.  After losing a 5-0 lead to start, the Hatters rallied after a timeout with seven consecutive points that gave them a 19-16 lead they would not relinquish.  Senior outside hitter Rebecca Orzechowicz (Miami, Fla.) had three kills down the stretch.  The Bears came out firing in the fourth set and quickly ended Stetson's comeback hopes en route to a 25-7 rout.

Junior right side Sarah Sears (Ashburn, Va.) and freshman middle blocker Sam Freeman (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) tied for the team lead with seven kills each.  Freshman outside hitter Kaylee Ream (Venice, Fla.) collected a career-high 14 digs while freshman setter Jennica Hagberg recorded a 31-assist, 12-dig double-double.  Orzechowicz finished with 11 digs and passed former teammate Karla Readshaw '08 as well as Dawn Dunn ?94 into sixth place on the Stetson career list with 1,020.  The Hatters recorded 80 digs on the evening, a season-high for a four-set match.

Karen Dorris led Mercer with 15 kills and 14 digs while Krista Hurley added 16 kills for the Bears.  Claire Tucker recorded 30 digs while Chelsea Gebben and Kelly Jansen handed out 20 and 14 assists, respectively.

The Hatters celebrate Senior Day tomorrow when A-Sun foe Kennesaw State comes to town for a 5 p.m. match.  Stetson Volleyball will honor its two seniors Boyer and Orzechowicz for their contributions to the program.