Birmingham, Ala. (Oct. 18, 2019) – In a rematch of last season’s SoCon tournament championship match, ETSU’s volleyball team flipped the script and defeated Samford in five sets, 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 19-25, 15-12).

With the win, ETSU improves to 17-3 (8-0 SoCon) as the only undefeated team in the conference. Samford falls to 12-5 (6-1 SoCon).   

Set 1 (25-21 ETSU): After a tightly contested beginning of the set, the Bucs took charge taking a 15-10 lead on a 4-0 run. ETSU held a seven-point advantage up 21-14 which was a much-needed cushion. The Bulldogs began to inch back with a 5-1 run late in the frame to cut the Bucs’ lead to three at 23-20. ETSU won two of the next three points with two kills to take the first set, 25-21.

Set 2 (25-23 ETSU):  ETSU came out strong in the beginning of the set up 9-3 to force a Bulldogs timeout. The Bulldogs fought hard out of the timeout to cut their deficit to two at 13-11. Samford ultimately came within one point down 17-16 before the Bucs jumped on a 3-0 run. ETSU held a 24-20 advantage and the Bulldogs went on a 3-0 run of their own. ETSU held their final set point up 24-23 when Lundyn Coffman (Murfeesboro, Tenn.) pounded a kill to give the Bucs the set 25-23.

Set 3 (25-23 SAM):  In the beginning of the third, the Bulldogs went on a 4-0 and 5-1 run to ultimately put Samford up 12-8 and force an ETSU timeout. Samford’s lead did not reach five points throughout the set and ETSU was able to come close late. ETSU cut within two points of Samford’s lead at 23-21 and came within one down 24-23. Samford took the second set to extend the match with a kill from Kelsi Hobbs.

Set 4 (25-23 SAM):  The fourth frame was close until Samford went on a 5-1 run to put them up 14-9. The Bucs fell behind 18-12 and were unable to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to any less than five. Samford took the fourth frame 25-19 like they did the third with a kill from Hobbs.

Set 5 (15-12 ETSU): Samford took their momentum in the third set leading 6-3 to force ETSU to call a timeout early. The Bucs battled out of the timeout to go on a 6-1 run and put the Blue and Gold up 9-7. The Bulldogs were able to tie the set at nine before ETSU ran away with the match. The Bucs held a 12-9 advantage to force the hosts to call their final timeout of the frame. ETSU’s freshman proved strong in the end of the set as Olivia Cunningham (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Lauren Hatch (Homewood, Ill.) put the match away for the Blue and Gold winning the fifth frame 15-12.

Key stats:

• Kaela Massey (Brentwood, Tenn.) led the way offensively for the Bucs tying her career-high of 19 kills. On defense the senior added three blocks (one solo).
• Hatch logged 15 kills for the third time in four matches. She completed ETSU’s lone double-double with 15 digs.
• Emily Arnold (Louisville, Ky.) set her career-high with 59 assists. She dropped three kills and had eight digs and an ace.
• Sara Esposito and Cunningham both finished with 14 kills to round out ETSU’s hitters with more than 10. They combined for 10 digs and Esposito was tied for a team-best four blocks.
• Coffman matched Esposito’s block total and tallied four kills offensively including a crucial spike at the end of the second set.
• Marija Popovic (Belgrade, Serbia) and Sydney Cherney (Knoxville, Tenn.) combined for 24 digs for the Blue and Gold.
• In the fifth set ETSU hit .440 (12 kills on 25 swings).

Inside the numbers:                           

• ETSU logged 69 kills for the first time this season and first since they recorded 71 at home against the Bulldogs last season on Sept. 28.
• The 67 assists are also a season-best for the Blue and Gold. It is the first time ETSU has reached 67 helpers since Sept. 19, 2017 vs Western Carolina.
• Four out of the six games the Bucs and the Bulldogs have played in Birmingham have gone to five sets. ETSU is 3-1 in those matches.
• After coming into the Conference play 0-3 when they lose the third set, the Bucs are now 2-3 this season when losing the third frame after defeating the Citadel after losing the third set.
• Massey has now hit above. 400 in four of ETSU’s eight SoCon matches.
• Over the last two matches, Esposito has combined for 27 kills on 50 swings and just six errors (.420).
• The Bucs have now played six five-set matches this season which matches their total from last year. ETSU is now 4-2 in those contests.
• The Blue and Gold hold the SoCon’s longest active win streak at ten straight matches.

ETSU is back to the hardwood on Friday, Oct. 25 at home. The Bucs host the Furman Paladins at 6 p.m. in Brooks Gym.

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