College volleyball player Amanda Mack died Wednesday night, weeks after revealing that she had been diagnosed with a rare and potentially life-threatening blood disorder. She was 20.
Videos by FanBuzz
Mack's death was announced in a message posted to her Instagram account.
The Holy Cross junior disclosed in July that she had severe aplastic anemia, a condition in which bone marrow stops producing enough new blood cells. She said she had undergone two emergency surgeries after complications left her in critical condition.
Mack initially sought medical attention after waking with a severe headache and later losing consciousness. Doctors feared she could have leukemia before two bone marrow biopsies revealed aplastic anemia.
"Somehow my body had depleted my blood supply and ability to clot," Mack wrote. "I was admitted to the hospital and loaded full of blood and platelet transfusions."
She was admitted to Tampa General Hospital on Aug. 11 and began immunosuppressive therapy while preparing for a bone marrow transplant.
Three days later, Mack shared an optimistic update from her hospital bed.
"Now we wait for my body to fix my immune system and regenerate my bone marrow," she wrote. "Thank you to everyone for checking on me and for all the well wishes."
Mack began her college career at Cincinnati before transferring to Eastern Kentucky, where she appeared in 29 matches and made 26 starts during the 2025 season. She announced in May that she would continue her academic and athletic career at Holy Cross.
The Florida native previously starred at IMG Academy and was nominated for a USA Today High School Sports Player of the Year award in 2022.
"Our D1 family is heartbroken by the loss of Amanda Mack," D1 Training Hardin Valley wrote. "Anyone who shared the gym with her knew the joy and positive energy she brought into it."
Mack's family, friends and teammates are mourning an athlete remembered for far more than what she accomplished on a volleyball court.
