Tuesday, November 07, 2006

LYNCHBURG, Va. (November 7, 2006) ­­­­- ETSU dropped the first two games against Liberty Tuesday evening, but for the third time this season the Volley Bucs dug themselves out of the deficit and pulled out the victory, 34-36, 26-30, 30-24, 30-18, 15-13.  The win extends the Lady Bucs school record winning streak to 16 matches.

"We showed a lot of heart tonight," said head coach Lindsey Devine.  "We made good adjustments for games three, four and five, and I am so proud of the way we didn't back down and kept fighting for every point."

Both squads hit .246 in the opening game, but it was the Lady Bucs (25-5) who earned the first game point at 29-28.  Liberty saved that game point and fought off four more before claiming the game on its second game point.

After dropping the second frame, ETSU responded with 17 kills in game three, led by six from senior Sarah Buhr (Stockton, Calif.) and aided by 10 Lady Flame errors.  Seniors Jennifer Sartor (Toronto, Ontario) and Crystal Palmer (Chico, Calif.) added four and three kills, respectively as the Lady Bucs extended the match with a six-point triumph.

The Lady Bucs released their talent in the fourth stanza, hitting .316, nailing 17 kills against just five errors and evening the contest with an easy 12-point win.  Sartor led the way with five kills, followed by four apiece from Palmer and Buhr.

ETSU controlled game five, securing three match points on Sartor's 29^th kill of the night.  After the Lady Flames (10-17) saved two of the points, Buhr ended the festivities with her 19^th kill.

Sartor's 29 kills marked a new career high for the senior, as did Palmer's 21.  Senior Nani Emreson (Tracy, Calif.) also had a career night in her return to the lineup, dishing out a career best 77 assists.  Junior Kaena Apana (Waianae, Hawaii) set a new Vines Center mark, as well as a new personal high with 41 digs.

The Lady Bucs conclude regular season play Monday, November 13 at 7 p.m. in Radford, Va. against Radford University.