Saturday, September 16, 2006

CONWAY, S.C. (September 16, 2006) - The Lady Bucs began the day with a three game sweep of host Coastal Carolina University, 30-26, 30-18, 30-28 before falling in their final match of the weekend, 30-27, 30-18, 32-30, to Xavier.

"I'm pleased with our performance for the weekend up until the last match," said head coach Lindsey Devine. "Xavier is a good team, and we have to use this loss as a learning experience, that when our opponents push us, we have to push back and continue to execute our game plan."

ETSU controlled the opening match from the start, building a 19-12 game one lead, and holding on for the four-point victory.  Senior Crystal Palmer (Chico, Calif.) and junior Callie Kiselich (Colorado Springs, Colo.) each put down four kills in the frame, en route to a match-high 13 kills apiece.

The Lady Bucs (9-5) dominated the second game, taking an early six-point lead at 10-4, and cruising to the easy 12-point win.  Palmer and Kiselich again matched each other's kill totals; this time with six each, and senior Jennifer Sartor (Toronto, Ontario) added four kills of her own.

The Chanticleers (2-9) pushed ETSU in the final game tying the score late in the game at 28 apiece, but senior Sarah Buhr (Stockton, Calif.) gave the lady Bucs a match point with her ninth kill of the match, and a Coastal Carolina attack error on the next point secured the outcome.

The Lady Bucs could not sustain the dominance in the afternoon session however, as the Musketeers (6-7) hit an impressive .389 as a team, and capitalized on 20 ETSU attack errors in posting the easy three-game victory.

Sartor put down 18 kills in the finale, giving her 26 for the day and 36 for the tournament, propelling her to the all-tournament team.  Joining her on the team was senior Nani Emerson (Tracy, Calif.), who distributed 124 assists over the three-match weekend.  It is Emerson's third all-tournament selection of the season.

The Lady Bucs return to the road on Wednesday, September 19, traveling to Furman in a rematch from earlier this season.  The Lady Bucs won the first meeting in three games inside of Brooks Gym.  Wednesday's match time is set for 7:00 p.m.