JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 19, 2024) – East Tennessee State University begins its last regular season tournament of 2024 on Friday, Sept. 20.
The Bucs (5-4) play North Carolina Central (1-7) at 10 a.m. and Charlotte (3-8) at 4:30 p.m. on Friday before finishing nonconference play against Queens (2-7) at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
ETSU took their first "Power 4" win of the regular season at the Liberty Tournament, defeating West Virginia 3-1 for the program's first win over an active Big 12 team (ETSU's two wins over UCF came when the program was an independent – 1992 – and a member of Conference USA – 2007.) ETSU also fell to Virginia and Liberty during the tournament.
The Bucs are led offensively by senior outside hitter
Amanda Lowe, who has totaled 99 kills (3.06/set), junior outside hitter
Brianna Cantrell (82 kills) and graduate setter
Reese Rhodes, who has posted 266 assists (8.62/set) and 15 aces. Defensively, the middle blocking duo of junior
Whitley Rammel and senior
Abbey Thomas have paced the Bucs, totaling 37 and 33 blocks, respectively. Sophomore libero
Melanie Morris has 96 digs and Rhodes has added 72 digs.
North Carolina Central is led by Emmie Modlin, who has 76 kills. Bella Dearinger has 255 assists and ten aces, Loren Johnson has 89 digs and Kayden Cupid has 24 blocks. NCCU enters the tournament 1-7, with their lone win on the season over Campbell. The Eagles lost to Elon, who the Bucs swept in the Wildcat Classic, and SoCon opponent UNC Greensboro – the Bucs home opening opponent. ETSU leads the all-time series 2-0 over the Eagles and won the last meeting 3-0 in 2010.
Charlotte is led by Oklahoma transfer Kristen Birmingham, who has totaled 130 kills and 87 digs. Selany Puente has 36 blocks and 20 aces, and Lauren Nixon has 183 assists. The 49ers enter their shared home tournament at 3-8, with wins over Charleston Southern, UNC Wilmington and Norfolk State. Charlotte lost 3-1 to Furman, who will make the trip to Johnson City for SoCon play on Sept. 27. ETSU has an all-time 10-9 series lead, but the 49ers won the most recent matchup 3-1 in 2014.
Alleigh Johnson has led Queens with 108 kills on the season. Jesse George has 126 digs and 10 aces for the Royals, while Kayla McDuffie has 28 blocks and Kendall Buish has 203 assists. Queens enters their co-host tournament at 2-7, with their pair of wins coming over Presbyterian and William & Mary. The Royals fell in five sets to Davidson and also lost to Wofford. The Bucs haven't faced Queens since 1997, and are 2-0 all-time against the Royals. ETSU won the 1997 meeting 3-0.
For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, follow @ETSUVolleyball on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and visit ETSUBucs.com.
