Stevenson University senior middle hitter Alex Mercer, this week’s INTRODUCING … featured student-athlete, has led the Mustangs to unparalleled success during her career.  She leads the CAC in hitting percentage, is among the conference leaders in kills and blocks and has helped the Mustangs reach the 20-win plateau for the third time in the last four years.

What is your background in the sport you play?  I found volleyball my sophomore year at Liberty High School, so I never played club. My junior year we lost in the Maryland State finals, my senior year we lost the semi-finals. I’ve worked at multiple camps coaching and assisting middle and high-school players.

What is your favorite spot on campus?  I like the Ratcliff Building, known to upperclassmen as ‘Avalon’ before the name change. Avalon has recreational areas for commuters and residents like ping pong, and pool tables, multiple television viewing areas, as well as our infamous ‘Jasmines’ Smoothies. It’s the place to kill time for sure.

Other than your team, what organization(s) do you participate in (on campus or off campus)?  I am a part of the John Hopkins Reserve Officer Training Corps ‘Blue Jay Battalion’. They host not only Stevenson, but UMBC, University of Baltimore, and MICA downtown. This is my second year participating. ROTC conducts training to prepare college student to become Army officers in the near future.  

Briefly describe the most memorable experience during your collegiate athletic career.  The most memorable moment in my collegiate athletic career would be my sophomore year, with a record of 32-8, out team hosted the CAC quarterfinals and beat a team we were expected to lose to based on performance during the season. We overcame the odds and made it into the ECAC tournament as the #1 Seed.  Go Mustangs!

What is the most important societal issue facing college students?  College students have to balance their time impeccably, especially as athletes. Time management and learning to become an adult, prepare for the real world challenges of finding a job in our economy. America being the most diverse country, college students also face learning to work with people from all different walks of life.

If you could change any one item in the world (in your personal life, school, community, amateur or professional sports, national/international issue, etc.), what would it be, why, and how would you do it?  I would go back to decision making about my major, and spent more time really learning about other tracks. I focused in on something I enjoy when, after four years, I have found more areas of study I enjoyed just as much if not more than my own.

What is your major in college, and what is the most important thing you learned in that discipline?  Information Systems: Computer Forensics: I have learned attention to detail is vital, and that you need to maintain all integrity of evidence, as well as the importance of documentation.

Other than your family members, who was the most influential person in your life?  The most influential person in my life has been my AAU basketball coach Cliff Yeager. No matter what path in life I’ve taken, he has continued to be a grandfather figure to me and really push me to do well in school, volleyball, ROTC, and everything that I do in life. Also, my family friends who support me and who are there for me when my family moved to North Carolina last fall, I always have a second home in Maryland I can go home to when I am lonely.

If you could give one piece of advice to elementary school children, what would that advice be?  Always follow that ‘sixth sense’ or your initial gut instinct. It is almost always right.

What is your favorite form of entertainment?  I enjoy networking with people, sports such as volleyball, basketball, soccer, football, and watching the Ravens or the Orioles any day of the week. I like working with computers and traveling as well.

Outside of the Capital Athletic Conference, who or what is your favorite sports person or team?  I think LeBron James is a good role model and he has been one of my favorite players for a long time. His passion for the game, his team, his teammates, and sets a great example for others.

Name three (3) people, real or fictional, living or dead, that you'd like to have dinner with?  MacGyver, Angelina Jolie, and Peter from The Family Guy.  

I'd like to go to dinner with MacGyver because he can fix anything with ducktape and a Swiss army knife!  He is a great role model as he actively opposes guns, drugs and smoking and is extremely healthy. He also teaches resourcefulness, facing your fears, but most importantly that if you think it through, you can solve most anything with a sense of humor!

I'd like to ahve dinner with Angelina Jolie because I have always seen her as a role model and a strong woman.  Her political involvement and humanitarian efforts in Africa prove she is influential and would love to meet her!

I'd go to dinner with Peter from The Family Guy because he is a totally epic cartoon character who always makes me laugh, no matter what!  You can't go wrong with a good laugh!