Friday, September 05, 2003

Valparaiso, Ind. (Sept. 5, 2003) - East Tennessee State's volleyball team fell 3-0 to Indiana State Friday night in the first match of the Popcorn Classic in Valparaiso, Ind. With the loss, ETSU drops to 1-3 on the season, while the Sycamores improved to 3-1 after defeating the Buccaneers by scores of 30-21, 30-19, and 32-30. "Our lack of offense just killed us tonight," said ETSU head coach Lindsey Devine. "We are still trying to take care of the details and trying to find out where the heart of this team is. Right now we're looking for a pulse." Kelsey Sherich (Ogallala, Neb.) led the Buccaneer offense by registering 12 kills on the evening. The freshman outside hitter had just one attack error and finished the match with a team-high attack percentage of .440. Senior Kate Steidle (Waynesboro, Va.) also picked up just one attack error. She tallied 10 kills for a .409 hitting percentage. Freshman Jennifer Sartor (Toronto, Canada) earned the team's first double-double of the season with 24 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore Kristi Robinson (Knoxville, Tenn.) nearly accomplished the same feat with 15 assists and nine digs. Kylee Osborne, who recorded a match-high 17 kills on just two errors, led Indiana State. The Sycamores hit .351 as a team. Osborne also garnered 14 digs in the match, while Kerri Byrum served up 42 assists. The competition doesn't get any easier for ETSU on Saturday. The Buccaneers will face off against two teams that entered the tournament undefeated with 4-0 records. They will play host Valparaiso at 1:30 p.m. (EST), and will then face Cleveland State at 6 p.m.