DAVIDSON, N.C. - Behind a season-high 20 blocks, including five blocks in
game five, the Davidson volleyball team upset East Tennessee State 30-25,
22-30, 33-31, 24-30 and 15-11, Friday night at Belk Arena. With the victory,
the Wildcats (13-16, 10-9 SoCon) clinch the sixth seed for next weekend's
conference tournament while the Bucs (19-5, 14-5) fall to 5-4 in away league
contests.
With the score tied at 6-6 in the decisive fifth game, Davidson came up with
three straight blocks, two of which were solo blocks by sophomore Latisha
Chapman, to open a 9-6 edge. A kill by Chapman, followed by another block by
Chapman and freshman Kristen Higbee, gave the 'Cats a five-point cushion at
11-6. However, ETSU would rally to get within two points at 13-11. After a
Davidson time out, the Bucs had an attack error giving the Wildcats three
match points. Junior Roberta Quis ended the contest on the ensuing point
with her match-high ninth block.
In the opening game, East Tennessee State jumped out in front 4-1 before the
'Cats claimed the lead at 7-6. From that point on, Davidson would not
relinquish the advantage and took the game, 30-25.
Down 6-4 in game two, the Bucs rattled off six consecutive points to open a
10-6 lead. East Tennessee State pushed the spread to as large as nine while
holding Davidson at bay for the remainder of the game.
The third game saw both teams earn game points. Davidson would have the
honors first with three game points at 29-26. Kills by Amber Ciskowski and
Karen Freeburg helped ETSU even the score at 29-29. An attack error by the
'Cats put the Bucs up 30-29, but a Quis kill kept Davidson alive. Eventually
on the Wildcats' fifth game point, Davidson pulled through, 33-31.
East Tennessee State forced a fifth game by pulling away from the Wildcats
in the middle of game four. With the score tied at 14-14, ETSU took eight of
the next 10 points and then cruised to the
30-24 triumph.
Quis led all players with 17 kills while Jacqueline Ortega notched a
double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs. Chapman recorded seven blocks and
freshman Julia Hueckel chipped in with six.
The Bucs' Carey Cavanaugh registered a triple-double on the evening. She had
14 kills, 45 assists and 17 digs to pace ETSU. The 45 assists gave her 1,007 for the season and 3,038 for her career. She is only the fourth player in ETSU history to have tallied 3,000 or more assists.
Davidson improves to 4-1 in five-game matches this year.
The Bucs play their final match of the season Saturday afternoon at UNC Greensboro at 5 p.m.