Davidson, N.C. (Aug. 30, 2024)  –  East Tennessee State University (0-1) fell 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-22) to Marshall (1-0) in the opening match of the 2024 season.

Graduate transfer setter Reese Rhodes led the Bucs with 24 assists, six kills and digs, and a pair of aces. Graduate right side Jenna Forster posted 11 kills, and junior outside hitter Brianna Cantrell and sophomore libero Melanie Morris both notched nine digs.

Marshall was led by freshman outside hitter Audrey Geer, who led the match with 15 kills and 11 digs, and senior setter Brynn Brown totaled 27 assists for the Herd.

The Bucs won the first point of 2024 on a net error from Marshall and played the first set to an initial 14-14 tie behind a trio of kills from Cantrell and Forster. However, the Thundering Herd went on a 6-0 run off the service of Emma Sayre to take a 20-14 lead and won the set 25-18.

The second set started in a similar fashion, but it was Geer that spearheaded a 6-0 run from the service line to give the Herd a 15-9 lead after a 9-9 tie. The Blue & Gold began to mount a rally, drawing within a point at 19-18, but could not extend its run from there and dropped the set 25-20.

The Herd slowly built a lead throughout the third set off the arm of McKenna Melton, who tallied five kills in the set, before the Bucs once again narrowed the lead. However, it would not be enough to take the set from the Herd as Marshall staved off the rally to win the set and match 25-22.

Next, ETSU plays at 10 a.m. on Aug. 31 vs. Elon to continue the Wildcat Classic. For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, follow @ETSUVolleyball on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and visit ETSUBucs.com.