Road games are tough. The volleyball team can tell you that. After losing three straight, the Bucs came home and took out their frustrations on Campbell. ETSU won 30-27, 23-30, 30-27 and 30-15.
The Bucs came out hitting and took it to the Camels. The crowd really helped pull the ladies through.
The first game the Bucs came out firing and kept the score within a point. Then ETSU took over and showed their great blocking skills.
Michelle Mislan showed how great she could hit. “Michelle is a senior and that is how she is supposed to be,” said coach Lindsey Devine.
Laura Waddell led the team with 17 kills. Callie Kiselich chipped in with nine. Lauren Baufield came off the bench and put down eight kills.
“Lauren was great tonight. She came up big for us,” said Devine.
Game two started out badly and the Bucs never could get back in it. The Camels came out and went up 7-0.
Campbell showed what happens when your team gets out of whack. ETSU came back with the score at 10-13, but that was as close as they would get.
“We just lost our focus. We were out of whack and it showed,” said Whitney Cogburn.
“We just have to stay mentally focused,” Devine said. “We had mismatches and Campbell jumped on those opportunities.”
Halftime must have been a rousing event because the Bucs came out and grabbed the lead early. Then the two teams fought it out the rest of the way.
Game four was all ETSU. The fans even participated by starting the wave. With a combination of great defense and well-placed kills the Bucs kept the Camels to just 15 points.
By this time ETSU had figured out how to stop Femi Alabi of Campbell, who was spectacular with her kills. The way she put them down no one could return them because they went straight down.
“It is really great to play at home,” Mislan said. “The fans really make the atmosphere. I really enjoy playing here.”
Road or home, ETSU is a tough, yet young, team. “As a senior, I have to be an example for the girls,” Mislan said.
“For four years, I have learned and can pass this information along to them. Then they can pass it along.”
Cogburn said, “We play much better at home because it seems safer. But, we play well on the road if we can keep focused and play like we are supposed to.”
The Bucs will be hosting Radford on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. “We just need to execute or plays and just stay mentally focused,” said Devine.
“Any team is tough, we just have to play our game and just stay focused. It does help that we are at home,” said Cogburn.

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