ATHENS, Ga. – The Mercer University volleyball dropped the opening match of the Georgia Challenge to Georgia Tech by a score of 3-0 on Thursday afternoon.

After losing a lopsided opening set (25-8), Mercer fought back in the second frame. Trailing Georgia Tech 24-18 late, the Bears reeled off six straight points to tie the score at 24-24. However, the Yellow Jackets regrouped and won the next two points to take a 2-0 match lead. Georgia Tech then went on to take the third set by a score of 25-15 to take the match 3-0.

Morgan MacGilvary led Mercer in kills for the third time in just four matches this season with seven on Thursday afternoon. MacGilvary also totaled six digs, the second most of any Mercer player against Georgia Tech, and added an ace and an assist.

Twenty-two of the Bears' 27 kills came off the hands of freshmen or sophomores against the Yellow Jackets. MacGilvary, a sophomore led the way with seven. The freshmen duo of Paige Alsten and Heather Swann each added five and sophomore Emily Krogman also recorded five kills of her own.

The Bears close out the Georgia Challenge on Friday with a matinee against Georgia at 1 p.m. ET followed by a match versus Kennesaw State at 4 p.m.