DeLand, Fla. - The Stetson volleyball team (1-16, 0-10 Atlantic Sun) completed the first half of its conference slate without a win via Saturday's 25-18, 25-15, 22-25, 25-16 loss to visiting Mercer (5-13, 3-7 A-Sun) at the Edmunds Center. Freshman setter Kelli Carneal (Fredericksburg, Va.) led the Hatters with 28 assists, 12 digs and six kills while senior middle blocker Laura Boyd (La Crescenta, Calif.) hit a season high with 10 kills.
Sophomore outside hitter Kaylee Ream (Venice, Fla.) and junior setter Megan Stewart (St. Augustine, Fla.) had solid matches as well for the Hatters. Ream totaled nine digs, eight kills and a career high five service aces while Stewart collected a career-high 11 digs along with five assists. Senior libero Anna Becker (McLean, Ill.) led Stetson's defensive effort with a career high-tying 16 digs
The Hatters were out-hit .304 to .138 and out-killed 68 to 42 by Mercer in the match. The Bears had five players reach double figures in kills. Libby Hansch and Erica Vrvilo were particularly unstoppable, combining for 27 kills and just one error in 52 swings. Hansch had 16 kills and hit .516. Nickie Halbert (29 assists, seven digs) and Chelsea Gebben (24 assists, six digs) set up the Mercer attack while Ashley Skidmore (23 digs) and Rachel Urbelis (12 digs, 10 kills) also put up big numbers for the Bears.
Stetson starts the second half of the 20-match, double round robin league schedule Tuesday at Florida Gulf Coast. The match begins at 6 p.m. at Alico Arena and will be webcast on A-Sun.TV.
