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11/20/2008 - VOLLEYBALL
ETSU Holds Off Mercer Rally in Upset
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Photo Courtesy Gray Quetti / ASunPhotos.com
MACON, Ga. - ETSU overcame a boisterous home crowd and late Mercer rally to knock out the host Bears, 3-2, in the second game of the 2008 Atlantic Sun Volleyball Championship to advance to the semifinals.
Bucaneer sophomore Whitney Cogburn delivered the fatal blow to Merce's chance for the semifinals. The final set gave the ETSU Bucaneers their first-ever A-Sun tournament match win. ETSU had a 10-6 advantage, but Mercer came back off three kills and a service error to come within one. ETSU continued their stretch for the semifinals by way of three kills and an attack error. All-Freshman selection McKayla Barber slammed 15 kills and teammate junior Amanda Youell tabbed 40 assists.
Mercer flew by the Bucaneers in the first set only falling behind 3-2 in the beginning. ETSU tried a late surge scoring off an ace and three errors to hold Mercer scoreless. The Bears stopped their rally as the Bucs would only score one more point. Mercer's defense was on top of its' game as All-Freshman selection Amiee Frutchey earned 10 digs and Second-Team All-Conference libero Claire Tucker put in 10 digs. ETSU sophomore Desiree Dyck led the Bucs' offense with four kills.
ETSU took an early lead in the second set and stayed in front of Mercer the whole way. Barber earned six kills and Youell tallied seven assists. Freshman Jen Neice led the defense with seven digs. Mercer's defense tried to stop the momentum of the Bucs, but could not follow through. Tucker and Frutchey topped the Bears defense with six digs each.
In the third set, the Bucaneers took their momentum and ran with it. Barber recorded four kills and her teammates Jamie Stancliff and Dyck added three a piece. ETSU topped Mercer in attack percentage .300 to .250. ETSU setter Youell added 11 more assists and 10 digs to keep Merce'’s defense down to only 13 total digs on the set.
Mercer rallied back in the fourth set to change the tone of play. The Bears started hot getting a 16-10 advantage off of seven kills from the Mercer offense. ETSU would try to tighten the gap, but would only get within two.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
