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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University volleyball team will play at home for the first time in nearly three weeks Wednesday as the Bulldogs welcome the Mercer Bears to the Pete Hanna Center for a key Southern Conference matchup beginning at 7 p.m. (CT). Admission is FREE.
 
Samford (8-12, 3-3 SoCon) heads into the match with aspirations of bouncing back from last week's road losses to Chattanooga, 3-1, and ETSU, 3-1.
 
The Bulldogs recently completed their arduous four-match road swing with a 2-2 record. Samford opened the stretch with consecutive victories against Western Carolina, 3-1, and UNCG, 3-2, on Sept. 29 and 30, respectively. In the Bulldogs' most recent home match on Sept. 23, they swept Wofford in three sets.
 
Samford's Krista Boesing enters the week ranked No. 7 in the nation in total kills and No. 11 in points. Already this season, Boesing has compiled 323 kills, while racking up a total of 352.5 points. Additionally, Samford's junior setter Taylor Anderton is ranked No. 21 in the nation in total assists with 760. Anderton also leads the SoCon in the category.
 
As a team, Samford is ranked in the top 50 in the nation in assists (No. 36 – 918), service aces (No. 45 – 105), kills (No. 47 – 959) and digs (No. 48 – 1,177).
 
The Bulldogs currently sit in sole possession of fifth place in the conference standings with victories against Wofford, Western Carolina and UNCG.
 
Mercer (7-11, 2-4 SoCon) heads into Wednesday's match looking to snap a two-game losing streak. After sweeping Western Carolina and Savannah State in consecutive outings on Sept. 30 and Oct. 4, the Bears were more recently defeated on the road by Chattanooga, 3-0, and ETSU, 3-0, over the weekend. Mercer enters Wednesday's match with a 1-6 record in away games this season.

The Bears' Paige Alsten leads the SoCon in hitting percentage (.365) and ranks second in blocks per set (1.01). Emily Krogman ranks second in the SoCon for service aces (30).

Additionally, Claire Waliczek leads the Bears in assists per set (9.83), ranking fourth in the SoCon. Morgan MacGilvaryand Waliczek currently pace Mercer with seven double-doubles this season, while Krogman, trailing the two, has earned five double-doubles for the Bears.
 
Mercer's head coach this season is former Samford skipper Dex Schroeder. Schroeder was named the Bears' head indoor and beach volleyball coach on July 25, following a year off from collegiate coaching. He is the 12th head coach in Mercer indoor volleyball history and the second in Mercer beach volleyball history.
 
Samford leads its all-time series with Mercer by a count of 26-7. Last year, the Bulldogs swept the annual home-and-home rivalry with a 3-1 victory at home, as well as a 3-0 triumph on the road.
 
Following Wednesday's home match against Mercer, the Samford University volleyball team will next be in action Saturday at 7 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs square off against the first-place Furman Paladins in a huge SoCon showdown to be held at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
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