The Bucs volleyball team travelled to Cullhowee, North Carolina, to face the Western Carolina Catamounts on Oct. 16. The team won all three sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-18). They also traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, to defeat the Samford Bulldogs 3-2 in a match of five sets (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 19-25, 15-12)
“We have to continue to work hard, especially now that we have a target on our back,” said head coach Benavia Jenkins.
The Buccaneers improve 17-3 and remain unbeaten during this SoCon season at 8-0.
The first set started out slowly for the Blue and Gold, with the Catamounts leading 7-4 for the first part of the game before the Bucs started to take control beginning with a kill from sophomore Sara Esposito (Venezia, Italy), which resulted in four-straight points for the Bucs. This put them in the lead. The Catamounts were unable to take the lead back but went on a 5-1 run, which forced coach Benavia Jenkins to call a time out.
The Bucs won the set at a close 25-22.
During the second frame, the Blue and Gold took control from the beginning and never relinquished it. Jenkins again called a timeout after the Catamounts scored three consecutive points, and the Buccaneers won the set 25-18.
For the third and final set the Bucs again took the lead from the start, which prevented the Catamounts from catching up. The Blue and Gold won the frame 25-18 with the Catamounts never coming within more than five points of them.
During the match against Samford, which was a rematch from last years SoCon, the two teams played a close game throughout the five sets. At the end of the day the Blue and Gold remained unbeaten.
Both teams started strong in the first set, with the Bucs eventually taking a 15-10 lead with a 4-0 run. ETSU held a seven point advantage until the Bulldogs made a 5-1 run late in the frame, but the Bucs won the set after two kills from Esposito and freshman Lauren Hatch (Homewood, Illinois).
ETSU remained in the lead during the beginning of the second set with a 9-3 run. After Samford took a timeout, they came back making a one point difference twice before the Buccaneers won the set 25-23.
During the third set Samford came in the lead pretty early on, which forced the Bucs into a timeout. ETSU tried to get the lead, but did not get closer than a five point trail. This resulted in the Bulldogs taking the set 25-22.
Confident from their previous victory, Samford took the fourth set 25-19.
Samford led the fifth set in the beginning, but the win of the set went to the Blue and Gold after a 12-9 advantage led to the 15-12 victory giving them the match win.
“It was a great victory,” said senior Kaela Massey (Brentwood, Tennessee). “We’re excited to get back into the gym and continue to work hard and improve.”
The next match is scheduled for Oct. 25 in Brooks Gym at 6 p.m.
