Friday, August 28, 2009

MOREHEAD, Ky. (Aug. 28, 2009) - The ETSU volleyball team dropped a pair of matches Friday night at the Comfort Inn and Suites Tournament at Morehead State in Morehead, Ky. falling to Chattanooga 3-1 (22-25, 14-25, 25-23, 20-23) and James Madison 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25).

"Within the two games we played we did some good things, and we are just missing putting it all together," said head coach Lindsey Devine. "We passed very well, but our block is something we will have to concentrate on to be successful tomorrow."

Senior Amanda Youell (Middleburg, Fla.) led the way for the Bucs with 13 kills, 63 assists, 14 digs, four blocks and three service aces on the day. McKayla Barber (Columbus, Ind.) had a team-high 18 kills on the day including 10 against the Dukes, while Jen Neice (Allen, Texas) led the Bucs defensively with 31 digs.

In the first match, Chattanooga jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the first set after a 6-0 run. The Bucs rallied back to tie the set at 14-all after a couple big blocks from Lauren Baufield (Plymouth, Minn.). The two teams battled back and forth until with the score tied 22-22 the Mocs pulled out three straight points to take the first set 25-22.

Chattanooga continued their hot streak in the second set taking an early 5-1 lead. The Mocs went on a 7-1 run late in the set to take the set 25-14 and a 2-0 lead in the match.

ETSU answered in the third set as Youell and Whitney Cogburn (Kingsport, Tenn.) combined for seven kills and three blocks in the set. After taking a 12-10 lead the Bucs went on a 5-2 run to extend their lead to 17-12. The Buccaneers took the set 25-23 on a Chattanooga attack error.

Just as it looked like the Bucs had the momentum in the fourth set up 8-3, the Mocs went on a 10-1 run to take a 13-9 lead. Chattanooga held on to take the set 25-20.

In the second match of the day, play was tight until the Bucs jumped out to a 17-14 lead. James Madison went on an 8-3 run to take a 22-18 lead and held on to win the set 25-20.

With the score tied at 13-all in the second set, ETSU went on an 8-3 run powered by a couple big kills by sophomore Jamie Stancliff (Advance, N.C.) to take a 21-16 lead. The Bucs went on to take the set 25-28 to tie the match at 1-all.

The Dukes answered in the third set jumping out to a 10-5 lead. ETSU rallied to cut the JMU lead to a point at 13-12, but James Madison held on to take the set 25-20 after an 8-2 run.

The Bucs looked to have regained the momentum in the fourth set going up 7-4, but James Madison again answered going up 15-10 after a 7-2 run. The Dukes fought off a couple ETSU rallies to take the fourth set 25-22.

The Bucs are back in action tomorrow at 2 p.m. as they take on the host Morehead State. For more information on Buccaneer volleyball and all other Buccaneer athletic news, please visit www.ETSUBucs.com.