Volley Bucs down Furman for the second time in 2006

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Junior Callie Kiselich hit .450 for the match against Furman Tuesday night.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

GREENVILLE, S.C. (September 19, 2006) - A week and a half after sweeping Furman in Brooks Gym, the Lady Bucs were pushed to a fifth game on the Paladins court, but in the end the result was the same; ETSU prevailed over Furman in a grueling five games, 21-30, 30-27, 30-27, 27-30, 16-14. It is the Lady Bucs second victory over the Paladins this season, marking the first time ETSU has defeated Furman twice in the same season since 2001. It was also the Lady Bucs first victory in a fifth game in three chances this season.

"Winning in five was huge for us at this point in the season," said head coach Lindsey Devine. "We've struggled in fifth games this season, but tonight we kept pushing, our middles did a phenomenal job, and we executed at key moments."

Senior Jennifer Sartor (Toronto, Ontario) and junior Callie Kiselich (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the way for the Lady Bucs, putting down 20 kills apiece. Senior Nani Emerson (Tracy, Calif.) continued running a stellar offense, dishing out 55 assists, and junior Kaena Apana (Waianae, Hawaii) and Kiselich were both superb defensively, digging out 16 balls each.

The Paladins (5-7) blitzed ETSU in the opening game, jumping out to a 16-8 lead en route to hitting a blistering .459 for the game and coasting to the nine-point victory. The Lady Bucs could not manage much offense in the opener, hitting .200 and mustering just eight kills for the game. Furman's offense also ran roughshod over ETSU as the Lady Buc defenders only collected two blocks in the frame.

The Lady Bucs (10-5) battled back in each of the next two games, hitting .243 and pounding out 34 kills as they took a 2-1 match advantage. The defense asserted itself as well, blocking 12 Furman attacks through the second and third games.

Kiselich accelerated her game considerably in the pivotal third frame, hammering a game-high seven kills and hitting for a .538 percentage.

In the decisive fifth game, Kiselich was perfect, tallying a kill in each of her four attacks for the game, including her 20^th kill for the match, coming on ETSU's second match-point at 15-14.

The Lady Bucs return home Sunday, September 24, taking on Eastern Kentucky in Brooks Gym at 2:00 p.m.