ASHEVILLE, N.C. (September 2, 2006) - After dropping its first match of the day in five games to Cleveland State, 30-22, 25-30, 13-30, 30-17, 18-16, the ETSU volleyball squad rebounded against the host Bulldogs, winning in four games, 25-30, 30-21, 30-26, 31-29, and taking second place at the UNC Asheville Volleyball Classic.

Dropping the first game against UNC Asheville, the Lady Bucs (4-2) rallied to take the next three games and finish the weekend with a 2-1 mark.  Seniors Sarah Buhr (Stockton, Calif.) and Jennifer Sartor (Toronto, Ontario) delivered 19 and 16 kills, respectively in the victory, while fellow senior Nani Emerson (Tracy, Calif.) distributed 54 assists.

"It was great for us to rebound after our loss earlier today," said head coach Lindsey Devine. "We played consistent ball tonight, and really kept our mental focus from beginning to end.

In the second game with UNC Asheville (1-7), the two squads traded blows in the early going, before the Lady Bucs took the lead for good at 13-12 on one of Buhr's six kills for the game.  ETSU cruised to the victory from there, closing the game on a 7-1 run, aided by two kills from all-tournament performer Sartor.

The Bulldogs led by as much as seven in the third game, but the Lady Bucs erased the deficit with a 9-2 run, tying the match at 20 on a service ace from senior Crystal Palmer (Chico, Calif.).  ETSU netted six of the next eight points, assuming control of the frame at 26-22, and clinched the game on Elif Unlu's service error at game point.

The Lady Bucs leapt out to a 14-5 lead in game four, an withstood a furious Bulldog rally to claim the match 31-29.  After taking the nine point lead, ETSU allowed UNC Asheville to slowly chip away at the advantage, eventually falling behind by as much as two points at 26-24.  Buhr hammered home three consecutive kills to reclaim the ETSU advantage, and after one final Bulldog rally evened the game at 29, consecutive errors by UNC Asheville lifted the Lady Bucs to victory.

It was an important rebound victory for the Lady Bucs who, earlier in the day squandered a 2-1 match lead against eventual tournament champion Cleveland State.

"We have to learn from this," said Devine.  "We need to know that matches aren't over until we end them.  We can't wait for our opponents to make mistakes and win the match for us."

Sartor accumulated 45 kills over the weekend to earn her all-tournament honors, and Emerson joined her on the all-tournament team after dishing out 158 assists over the three matches.

The Lady Bucs are back in action Wednesday, September 6 when they travel to Greenville, Tenn. for a 7 p.m. match against Tusculum.