Wednesday, November 17, 2004

(Nov. 16, 2004) -  The ETSU volleyball squad has played their final match of the 2004 season finishing with an overall record of 7-22, including a 5-11 record competing in their final Southern Conference season.  Under the direction of second-year head coach Lindsey Devine, the Lady Bucs volleyball squad had many ups and down throughout the year, however taking the final two games of the season against UNC-Greensboro and Elon, ETSU plans to use that positive momentum to propel them into off season training and the 2005 season ahead.

Despite losing their setter just weeks before the season began, and battling injuries to key players throughout the year, ETSU continued against all odds.  Led by senior Karen Freeburg (New Castle, Ind.), the Lady Bucs posted their first victory of the season against non-conference opponent Lipscomb competing at the Nike/Comfort Suites Classic in Richmond, Ky. in early September.  The following weekend the Bucs traveled to West Lafayette, Ind. to participate in the Mortar Board Premier held on the campus of Purdue University where sophomore Jennifer Sartor (Toronto, Canada) was honored with a spot on the All-Tournament team, the only member of the Lady Bucs squad to garner all-tournament honors in 2004.

After nearly a month on the road, the Bucs finally returned to the court in Brooks Gymnasium to host Appalachian State in both the home and Southern Conference opener for 2004.  In an exciting five-game match, the Mountaineers managed the 3-2 win despite 19 kills from ETSU freshman Callie Kiselich (Colorado Springs, Co.) in her first home match in a Lady Bucs uniform.  Much of October saw the Bucs stay close to home playing a tough stretch of conference match-ups including a thrilling 3-2 win versus UNCG in Greensboro and a 3-0 sweep of The Citadel on Oct. 16.

The Lady Bucs opened November on the road with a mid-season non-conference match versus Radford.  ETSU swept the Highlanders behind 13 kills each from Kiselich and right-side hitter Sara Scandiffio (Purcellville, Va.) in the win, while Lady Bucs setter Brittany Kessel (Libertyville, Ill.) dished 44 assists. 

Entering the final weekend of competition, the Lady Bucs needed two capture wins versus both the Spartans and Elon, while needing UTC to fall in both of their weekend match-ups.  Playing at home on parent's weekend the Lady Bucs swept UNCG 3-0 and defeated the Phoenix 3-1 on Senior Day, however the Mocs also captured wins over the weekend propelling their team into the post season tournament while the Lady Bucs had played their final match of the year.  Highlighting the final weekend of competition was Freeburg posting 32 digs in the match versus Elon, and final match of her career, to garner national recognition from the AVCA for posting 30 digs in a match.

 "Our record this season is not a true indication of the hard work that the team put forth both in practices and games this year.  With the addition of four new team members and a core of returning young players, many of our team goals were accomplished," Devine said. "By finishing our season with two great wins, this increased confidence will lay the foundation for preparing for the 2005 season ahead."

Three Lady Bucs played in all 116 games this season, Freeburg, Kiselich and Sartor while Scandiffio made 115 appearances for coach Devine.  Kiselich led the Bucs hitting .238 adding 328 kills for the year, while Scandiffio's 344 kills was a team-high in 2004.  Kessel posted 1,052 assists throughout 2004, adding 28 aces (team-high) and 206 digs in her first season in a Bucs uniform.  Freeburg posted a team-high 415 digs for the year, just 26 digs shy of her career-high set in 2002. 

Continue to visit the home of Buccaneer athletics online at ETSUBucs.com for scores, updates and information.