2006: Proved to be the most dominant defensive force at the net in the A-Sun in her first season with the program...appeared in 30 matches, playing 111 games as a junior...led the squad with 141 blocks and 1.27 blocks per game, each of which led the conference...also ranked second with a .234 hitting percentage and third with 256 kills...tied a program and conference record with 12 total blocks at East Tennessee State (10/5)...the mark helped the Dolphins set a new program record with 23 total team blocks...recorded at least five blocks in 15-of-30 matches, including a season-high four consecutive...tallied a season-high 23 kills and 47 attempts vs. Campbell (10/27)...recorded nine double digit kill efforts on the year, including a three match streak...notched a season-high .667 hitting percentage (12-0-18) at Charleston Southern (9/22)...registered a season-high two digs on six occasions and had one assist three times.

Prior to JU: A star at North Idaho College, Merchant finished her sophomore campaign with a .339 hitting percentage, a 1.2 blocks per game average which ranked second in the conference...helped North Idaho to a fourth place finish nationally with a 31-5 record and defeated the No. 1 ranked program in the NJCAA.

High school: Lettered for three years at Freedom High School for head coach Laurie Griffith, starting two...named second team all-league her final season, leading Freedom to the first round of the North Coast Section Tournament...also lettered in tennis and was a key doubles player for Freedom High.

Personal: Born on July 21, 1986, in Antioch, Calif...daughter of Wendy Merchant...has two sisters: Rebecca, and Amber; and a niece, Sapphire...majoring in political science.