CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Senior Johnna Robinson swatted a season-high eight blocks as Western Carolina swept Mercer 3-0 in Southern Conference action on Saturday evening on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts won the match by scores of 25-14, 25-13, and 25-20.
 

WCU improves to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in the SoCon while Mercer falls to 4-10 and 0-2.

In addition to Robinson's eight total blocks, junior Livi Weidmann tied a career-high with six. Fifth-year senior Merry Gebel led the Catamount offense with 13 kills. Bailey Hartsough had a team-best eight digs while Sydney Carlson dished out 21 assists. 

Annie Karle led Mercer with eight kills. Lexi Urhan had eight digs while Kiera McCarles had 16 assists.

Tied at seven in the first set, WCU pulled ahead thanks to consecutive Bear errors. WCU held a 15-10 lead at the media timeout and pushed its lead to 22-12 after a Gebel kill. A Carlson service ace closed out the opening set.

After Mercer took the first three points of the second set, WCU went on a 9-2 spurt capped by an Eden Punch kill. WCU increased its lead to 15-8 on a block by Brooklyn Poling and Bailey Hartsough and secured the set with a Weidmann kill.

The Bears led 4-1 early in the third set before WCU used a 13-4 burst as Carlson's second ace of the night put the hosts ahead 14-8. Mercer battled back, evening the set at 20 thanks to a Lillian Beardsley service ace. A Hartsough kill started a 5-0 charge by the Catamounts down the stretch with the match ending on a Carlson ace. 

WCU heads to the Palmetto State next weekend, visiting The Citadel on Friday at 6 p.m. and Wofford on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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