On Oct. 28 the Lady Bucs traveled to Asheville to face UNC-Asheville in an exciting five game battle. The victory went to the Bulldogs as they defeated ETSU 30-19, 30-26, 28-30, 28-30, 15-13.
In game one Asheville built a 14-point lead, 22-8, before taking game one. The Lady Bucs started game two with a lead, 13-7, but were unable to keep hold of it as UNC Asheville tied it at 18. Tied at 23, Asheville went on a 6-2 run to take the game.
As in previous games, ETSU was able to rally in the third and fourth games to push a fifth.
The Lady Bucs’ strongest offensive performance came in the fourth game with a .304 hitting percentage and 21 team kills.
In the fifth game, Asheville was able to gain the lead from the starting gate. A four-point difference was the biggest lead in this game, including four match points for the Bulldogs. Three straight points were added to the Lady Bucs’ scoreboard before a block ended it all.
Sara Scandiffio was at the helm for the Bucs with 17 kills and a .213 hitting percentage. Sophomore Andrea Piercy recorded a double-double for the Bucs, tallying 16 kills and 15 digs. Callie Kiselich also recorded 16 kills, with a .308 hitting percentage, while teammate Jennifer Sartor totaled 60 assists, eight kills and eight digs.
Amanda Wiles was in charge for the Bulldogs claiming her second triple-double with 14 kills, 50 assists and 13 digs. Wiles also recorded a .406 hitting percentage. Rose Butler tallied 15 kills and 13 digs, while Elif Unlu got on the board with 14 kills and 13 digs.
ETSU out blocked the Bulldogs 12-7. The Bulldogs were able to pull a .230 hitting percentage, while the Bucs averaged .174.
“It is hard to play on the road,” said ETSU Head Coach Lindsey Devine. “The demand of school and the demand of volleyball have an affect. We’re certainly not getting the wins we had hoped for.”
Atlanta was next on the road map for the Lady Bucs, where they faced Georgia State, a non-conference rival. Georgia State was able to take the game 3-0 (30-22, 30-13, 30-18). After this loss, ETSU falls to 4-20, 3-9 in Southern Conference play, while Georgia State improved to 11-5.
Georgia State came from behind to tie the Bucs in game one at 15. Georgia State took an early lead in game two, 12-5, before taking control of the game 23-11. An 8-0 run in the third gave the Lady Panthers the momentum they were looking for to close out the match. Georgia State’s first match point came from a kill and the match was ended on an ETSU service error.
Scandiffio and Kiselich managed eight kills each, while teammate Sartor tallied 19 assists for the Lady Bucs.
For the night the Lady Panthers recorded a .457 team hitting percentage, while ETSU fell to a -.012 percentage. ETSU was also out blocked 3-8.
“(Girls) have to get their hand on the ball and faster feet,” Coach Devine said. “They didn’t play to (their) full potential.”
A win was captured against Radford Tuesday, Nov. 2, 3-0 (30-27, 30-25, 31-29). All three games were close, with leads taken by each team.
The Lady Bucs were able to win the game behind the performances of Kiselich and Scandiffio who tallied 13 kills a piece.
Scandiffio also recorded three aces. Sartor was close behind with 11 kills and 10 digs.
Radford was paced by Divona Cox with 15 kills and a .412 hitting percentage, along with teammate Josie Hanners tallying 32 assists and 12 digs.
Christine German was a force for Radford as she recorded three blocks and a .667 hitting percentage.
“The girls knew from the first point they were a talented team,” Coach Devine said. “If they played to their full potential they could win.”
The Lady Bucs will be back in action Saturday, Nov. 6 against Chattanooga and then will wrap up their long road trip against Appalachian State Nov. 9.

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