HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (Aug. 26, 2023) – Despite rallying for an opening-set win, the ETSU volleyball team couldn't maintain momentum as North Kentucky rallied for a four-set victory over the Buccaneers on Saturday at the NKU Invitational.

Following the setback, the Bucs dropped to 0-2 on the season, while NKU secured its first win of the 2023 campaign as they improved to 1-1. 

In the first set that featured 10 ties and five lead changes, the Blue & Gold overcame a seven-point deficit to capture a 26-24 victory. Trailing 21-14 late in the frame, ETSU rallied with a 12-3 run to fight back and claim the opener. The Bucs recorded eight straight points thanks to the strong serving from Malgorzata Andersohn (Bydgoszcz, Poland) and regained a 22-21 lead. From there, the set saw three ties and two lead changes, but with the score knotted at 24, a kill by Lundyn Coffman (Nolensville, Tenn.) and a block from Amanda Lowe (Blacksburg, Va.) and Abbey Thomas (Goldsboro, N.C.) gave ETSU the victory.

Unfortunately, the Bucs never led in the final three sets and NKU rallied for the win on its home court.

In the second set, the Norse jumped out to a 7-2 lead en route to securing a 25-17 victory. The early stages of the third were tightly contested with the frame featuring three ties; however, ETSU was unable to get over the hump. After pulling even at 5-5, the closest the Bucs would get was 11-10 thanks to another kill by Lowe. The Norse went on to win the next four points to open a five-point cushion, but ETSU threatened late when a kill by Kali Walker (Wildwood, Fla.) made it a 20-17 score. NKU eventually closed the set by winning five of the next six points to pull away for the 25-18 win.

The Norse won 10 of the first 12 points in the fourth set before wrapping the match up with a 25-17 victory.

Walker led the Bucs with 12 kills on 39 attempts, while adding seven digs and two blocks. Andersohn finished with a double-double as she totaled 20 assists and 20 digs. Fellow newcomer Jasmal Cruz (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico) added 19 digs and four assists.

For the second straight day, the attack errors continued to haunt the Bucs as they committed 18 more than the Norse, 35 to 17. ETSU finished with 45 kills, compared to 50 by NKU, while the Bucs were plus-11 in digs (63-52). The Norse won the battle at the net by four as they registered 13 blocks to ETSU's nine.

NKU's Ava Hoying and Joy Banks combined for 25 of its 50 kills. Banks finished with a double-double as she ended with 13 kills and 16 digs.

ETSU wraps up play at the NKU Invitational on Sunday morning when the Bucs face No. 14 Ohio State at 11 a.m.

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