The ETSU volleyball team has been busy at work the first two weeks of school.
Their first challenge came at the Mizuno/Auburn Challenge on Sept. 3-4, in Auburn, Ala. This young team battled hard, but was unable to capture a win.
“This was all about the conference, all about strengthening things from preseason were possible,” coach Lindsey Devine said. The Lady Bucs fell to 0-3 with losses to Auburn, Iowa State University and Birmingham Southern.
The Bucs played their first match against the Auburn Tigers going 25-30, 28-30 and 23-30.Sara Scandiffio lead the team with 12 kills and 14 digs, while Brittany Kessel, a transfer from Kent State, lead the team with 26 assists. The Tigers were able to pull ahead of the Lady Bucs with Rachel Shanks leading with 11 kills and Jordan Elliot with 34 assists.
The Bucs next competition came from Iowa State University. IS came out on top, 22-30, 16-30, 22-30. Leading the Lady Bucs were Sara Scandiffio with 9 kills and 10 digs.
Brittany Kessel also had a big game with 22 assists. Katie Kruenegel tallied 11 kills for Iowa State University followed by the 37 assists that were put up by Amanda Craig.
The final match of the tournament for the Lady Bucs was against Birmingham Southern. This game was more evenly matched. ETSU pushed this match into 4 sets, 23-30, 26-30, 30-25, 23-30. Sophomore Jennifer Sartor led the ETSU Lady Bucs with 18 kills obtaining a .467 percent. Brittany Kessel had a major game tallying 42 assists and 9 kills.
Birmingham Southern’s Kyndall Waters pulled the team through with 39 assists and 7 kills, while Rachel Malmborg recorded 20 kills.
Iowa State ended up defeating the Auburn Tigers in the championship match on Sept. 4 24-30, 30-20, 27-30, 30-28, 15-11.
The Lady Bucs were back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 7, facing the Wolfpack in Raleigh, N.C. ETSU was unable to come out with a win, 22-30, 20-30, and 27-30.
Brittany Kessel was on top of her game again with 5 kills, 23 assists and 7 digs. “Brittany knows how to play at a D1 level.
Devine said, “She brings experience and competitiveness to this team,” Devine said.
Katie Longden and Sara Scandiffio tallied 7 kills apiece.
The Lady Bucs had 12.8 kills per game, 14.8 digs per game and 27 total blocks, while NC State was able to put up 15.4 kills per game, 15.2 digs per game and 37 total blocks.
“My expectations for this year are to improve our standings from last year, practice like we were playing a game, and come to play at every match,” Devine said.
Coach Devine is looking forward to playing on home court.
The Lady Bucs first home game is not until Sept. 24-25. The game will be made extra special when they are joined by the ETSU Alumni for an Alumni weekend.

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