Friday, October 14, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (October 14, 2005) - Despite a match-high 14 kills from junior Jennifer Sartor (Toronto, Ontario), the East Tennessee State volleyball team suffered its first Atlantic Sun setback on Friday night, falling to North Florida, 3-0, in UNF Arena.  UNF managed to hold off ETSU in three tight frames, winning 30-27, 32-30, and 30-26.  The loss also halts the Lady Bucs' winning streak at eight matches, as ETSU drops to 14-6 on the year, 2-1 in A-Sun play.  Meanwhile, UNF improves to 11-8, 3-1 in the Conference.

The Lady Bucs refused to go down quietly all night, most notably in game two, when ETSU trailed 13-7, and rebounded to win 11 of the next 14 points, claiming the 18-16 lead.  Sartor caught fire during the rally, connecting on four of her nine kills in the frame.  The junior also swung a team-high .355 for the match.

ETSU maintained the lead, and led by as many as three points, until the Ospreys evened the score at 30-30 on an attacking error by ETSU's Crystal Palmer (Chico, Calif.)  A miscue by Sartor would put the Ospreys ahead, 31-30, before UNF's Jennifer King sealed the deal with a service ace, to finish the game at 32-30.

"We just weren't mentally strong at crucial moments and we didn't execute," said head coach Lindsey Devine from the road.  "We've been playing so well as a team, but tonight we played as individuals.  But I've got to give credit to UNF, they came and strong and played consistent all night."

Junior Sarah Buhr (Stockton, Calif.) also tallied double-digits in the kill column, with 11, along with nine digs.  Sophomore Callie Kiselich (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was next in line with nine kills and a team-high 12 digs, while junior Brittany Kessel (Libertyville, Ill.) belted six kills, and dished out a team-best 33 assists.  Sartor also recorded nine digs.

The Lady Bucs threatened again in game three, widening their lead to 15-10, capped off by a kill by senior Sara Scandiffio (Purcellville, Va.) on a Kessel assist, but UNF battled back to tie the score at 17.  With the score knotted at 26-26, the Ospreys pulled away with four straight points, including kills by Amy Stroder, Magen Wood, and a service ace by Jenna Thomas.  Emily Kohler would score the final Osprey point with a kill assisted by Heather Kendrick, to make the score 30-26.

King led the UNF attack with 13 kills, just ahead of Stroder with 12.  Defensively, King posted a match-high 14 digs with Kendrick and Thomas adding 10 apiece.  Kendrick also tallied a match-best 44 assists.  UNF out-hit ETSU for the match, swinging .285 to ETSU's .207.

"We need to rebound tomorrow night," said Devine.  "We need to play together as a team, and do the things that have gotten us this far."    

The Lady Bucs continue their stint in the Sunshine State tomorrow evening, as they travel to Jacksonville for a 5 p.m. start time.