Box Score MACON, Ga. (Oct 4, 2024) – East Tennessee State University volleyball fell 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 16-25, 18-25) to Mercer in Macon on Friday.

The Bucs (9-5, 1-1 SoCon) were led by junior outside hitter Brianna Cantrell and senior outside hitter Amanda Lowe in the match. Cantrell totaled 16 kills and eight digs, and Lowe added 13 kills.

The two squads played a back-and-forth first set. The Bears (12-3, 2-0 SoCon) built a three-point lead on multiple occasions, and stretched it to four points at 20-16. However, Cantrell came out swinging with seven kills in the opening frame, including three to bring the set to a 21-21 tie. After another tie at 22-22, a pair of errors from Mercer off Cantrell's serve set up Lowe for the set-winning kill and the Bucs took the first set 25-22.

The second set proceeded in a similar fashion to the first. The set was tied at 18 before Mercer extended its lead and the Bucs were unable to rally all the way back. Lowe drew ETSU within one after back-to-back kills, but Mercer took the set 25-21. 

Mercer flexed its home-court advantage in the third set. The match was tied at 12 before the Bears went on the first significant run of the match, closing on an 8-0 sprint to win the set 25-16. Skyler Bumpers tallied two blocks and a kill during the run to lead Mercer to the set win.

The Bears closed out the match in the fourth set. ETSU got as close as 10-11 off an ace from graduate setter Reese Rhodes, but was unable to take the lead. Mercer was led throughout the match by Skye Ekes and Lou Johnson, who both finished with double-digit kills. Bumpers also notched eight kills, five blocks and four aces.

Next, ETSU travels to face Samford at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Homewood, Ala. For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, follow @ETSUVolleyball on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and visit ETSUBucs.com.