Mercer beach volleyball opens its 2026 season Friday, Feb. 20 at the Sandy Spartan Showdown in Tampa, Fla., where it will face the University of Tampa, Saint Leo University and Barry University.
Under Head Coach Josh Marsh, who has led the program since 2020, Mercer enters the spring in a transition year. The roster features a mix of developing returners and a freshman class expected to immediately compete for roles. Several key contributors from the 2025 season graduated, though former standout Nicole O’Mara '25 now serves as a graduate assistant on staff.
“Continue to build on the success from last year,” Marsh told The Cluster of his goals for the season. "Get our freshmen comfortable competing at the college level.”
Grace Rathburn '28 is among the returning players with significant match experience. Rathburn posted a 21-13 record in 2025, primarily competing in the No. 5 position. With much of last year’s lineup gone, her experience will provide stability as the team reshapes its pairings.
The Bears will rely heavily on internal development, Marsh said. Jordyn Thomas-Warren '26 will be one of the pivotal senior members of the squad, he said.
"Jordyn Thomas-Warren made the most notable improvement over the summer," Marsh said. “She is executing at a high level from a skill perspective but also from an intangibles standpoint.”
With roster turnover comes opportunity for younger players to step up and make a good first impression, Marsh added.
“We have a very talented group of freshmen and we are training them to be prepared to jump into the lineup at any given moment,” Marsh said. “We expect great things from all of them.”
Marsh also pointed to the energy and foundational skills the newcomers bring to the program. Combined with returning players who have continued to develop, the coaching staff has more options than in previous seasons.
“The energy the freshman group brings along with their good skills foundation in addition to our returning players is exciting,” Marsh said. “We have more flexibility from a lineup perspective than has been available in previous seasons.”
As the season begins, one of the team’s primary focuses will be managing "competitive jitters," particularly for athletes adjusting to collegiate competition and new partnerships, said Marsh.
Last year, the team finished 24-13 overall, and lost in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament to Coastal Carolina University. They finished 3-3 in the Sun Belt overall.
A 20-win season is typically viewed as a successful campaign, Marsh said, though he emphasized performance standards over raw totals.
“Typically a 20-win season is the benchmark of a successful season,” Marsh said. “We have the talent and pieces to achieve that this year. That being said, if we consistently execute our game plan at a high level I will consider that success.”
The opening tournament in Tampa will provide an early test as the Bears establish their lineup and identity heading into the heart of the spring schedule. The Bears will host their own home tournament in Macon March 13-14, and will start the Sun Belt tournament April 23.
