GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Aug. 27) – The ETSU Bucs volleyball squad traveled south to open their season and take part in the Gator Invitational over the weekend. The event, hosted by the University of Florida, took place Aug. 26-27.
For their season opener, the Bucs took on the University of Virginia Cavaliers in the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.
The Cavaliers would take an early lead and go up 2-0 after closing the first two sets (25-21, 25-14) before the Bucs found their footing during the third set of play (25-15). After starting strong hoping to force a fifth set, the Bucs would lose control of the match after a late rally by the Cavaliers. The opposing team sealed the match with a (25-21) set and claimed their season opening victory over the Bucs 3-1.
On day two of the event, the Bucs hoped to bounce back from their loss the day before when they faced the No. 15 ranked University of Florida Gators. The Bucs would start strong, forcing the first set into extra points and eventually winning (26-24). The Gators would take full control of the match following the first set loss and not look back after a bounce-back second set (25-17) and continue to control the tempo of the match in the third and forth sets (25-13, 25-15).
After a 0-2 to start the weekend and season, the Bucs had one final match to find their rhythm when they played against the North Florida Ospreys.
The Ospreys came out strong against the Bucs sweeping the first three sets (25-22, 25-22, 25-12) and ending a frustrating appearance for the Bucs who drop to 0-3 to start the season.
The Bucs will look to rebound from their slow start on Sept. 2 when the team travels to participate in the Duke Invitational Tournament in Durham, N.C. The Bucs will take to the court at 12 p.m. to face the Duke Blue Devils.
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