DAVIDSON, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2024)  –  East Tennessee State University (2-1) earned a pair of wins on Saturday, defeating Elon (0-3) 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-21) and Davidson (2-1) 3-1 (25–18, 22-25, 25-19, 25-15).
 
The Bucs handled the Phoenix in the morning game behind a career-high six aces from sophomore setter Enisilina Savelio. After posting 10 aces in her freshman campaign, Savelio already has eight in 2024.
 
ETSU spread the wealth offensively, with four players tallying five or more kills, including nine from senior outside hitter Mandy Lowe. Graduate setter Reese Rhodes notched 23 assists, and senior middle blocker Abbey Thomas added five blocks (one solo).
 
The Bucs never trailed in the first set. Rhodes propelled ETSU to a quick 3-0 lead from the service line and the Blue & Gold controlled the set from there. A 7-1 run included a pair of Savelio's aces and bookended by kills from Thomas closed out the set for the Bucs. ETSU had five of its 11 aces of the morning in the first set.

The Phoenix got their largest lead of the game at 12-8 in the second set. A well-timed timeout from coach Lindsey Devine at that point then sparked an 8-1 Buccaneer run that included a pair of kills from Lowe and one from graduate outside hitter Jenna Forster. Attempting to extinguish the stretch, Elon took a timeout after Forster and Thomas combined for a block that gave ETSU a 14-13 lead – its first since 3-2 – but the veterans added another block immediately following the timeout, and the Bucs did not trail for the rest of the set.
 
The third and final set was the most back-and-forth of the match, with 10 ties and five lead changes. Elon had momentum from a 4-0 run behind the service of Kayla Palmer that resulted in a 9-6 lead for the Phoenix, but the turning point of the set came moments later. The longest rally of the match happened with the score knotted at 11. After several volleys, Elon appeared to have an opportunity for a kill before sophomore libero Melanie Morris fully extended for a dig that ended up on the Phoenix's side of the net. It was the only kill for Morris, who eclipsed 200 career digs Saturday, in the match.
 
Morris headed to the service line shortly thereafter with the match tied again at 14 and gave ETSU the lead for the final time, powering a 4-0 run. Savelio added another ace and the match ended on an attack error from Elon.
 
In the nightcap and final match of the Wildcat Classic, the Bucs started on the right foot. Davidson gained a 12-11 edge before Rhodes and junior outside hitter Brianna Cantrell engineered a 11-1 run from the service line. A trio of kills from Lowe closed the 25-18 set win for ETSU.

The second set was the closest of the match, featuring 11 ties and five lead changes. Davidson was able to prevail behind five kills from Jackie Barden, and five total Wildcats recorded a kill in the second set.

In the third set, the Bucs retook control of momentum and would not relinquish it. ETSU recorded five of its 15 blocks in the match in the third set, in part forcing 12 errors from Davidson. Thomas and Savelio provided strong efforts from the service line, helping to extend the lead, and the Bucs recorded a side out percentage of 75%, preventing Davidson from extending a run.
 
ETSU kept its strong side out percentage in the fourth set, hitting 73% in those situations. The Bucs also had their fastest start, racing to a 9-4 lead. Cantrell continued her outstanding day, notching five kills while hitting .625 in the final frame, and ETSU put a bow on the match win with the 25-15 set. ?

Cantrell tallied a match-high 20 kills to go with nine digs, and Lowe added 15 kills of her own. Rhodes posted 43 assists and 11 digs, while Morris had 19 digs. Thomas and junior middle blocker Whitley Rammel combined for four and five blocks, respectively.
 
Rhodes' performance over the weekend earned her a spot on the Wildcat Classic All-Tournament Team. Over the course of the tournament, she totaled 90 assists, 27 digs, 13 kills, five blocks and five aces.
 
Next, ETSU plays at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 6 against Appalachian State at the Mountaineer Classic. For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, follow @ETSUVolleyball on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and visit ETSUBucs.com.