Volleyball | June 27, 2023

AIKEN, S.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball standout Kari Mercer will return for the upcoming 2023 season.

Mercer, a fifth-year student-athlete, earned D2CCA first-team all-region honors on the court a season ago in addition to picking up all-PBC honors. She garnered PBC Specialist of the Week honors after setting the school record with 49 digs in the win over Catawba. For the season, Mercer notched 666 digs.

In 2021, she accounted for 6.05 digs per set (605 total) en route to earning All-America honors.

During her first four seasons at USC Aiken, Mercer has been named PBC Libero of the Year twice. She has also earned all-conference honors three times, all-region accolades twice and All-America honors once. 

Her 1,863 career digs are third in school history. She has also accounted for the fifth and seventh-highest marks for digs in a single season while also recording the fourth and fifth-highest digs per set average in school history.

Off the court, Mercer has thrived as well. She is a three-time PBC all-academic team selection while earning Academic All-America honors a year ago.

Mercer is the first USC Aiken volleyball student-athlete in the program's history to pick up All-America honors on the court and in the classroom. 

"It was an easy decision to stay at USC Aiken for my fifth year because of the amazing academics and the relationships I've built on the team," Mercer said. "This season, the team will be packed in every position. I am eager to return and fight for the PBC Championship once again for our program with the hardworking student-athletes beside me."

Mercer graduated in May with her degree in business administration and will pursue an MBA.