BOONE, N.C. (Friday, Sept. 6) – East Tennessee State University (3-2) split its Friday slate at the Mountaineer Classic, falling to App State (2-2) 3-2 and sweeping Gardner-Webb (1-5) 3-0.

ETSU got off to a hot start in the first set of the morning match, quickly stretching a 5-5 tie into a 15-8 lead. Graduate student setter Reese Rhodes dominated, notching eight assists and going a perfect five-for-five in attacking opportunities in the set to lead to a 25-16 win. The Bucs prevented App State from going on any extended runs, finishing with a 70% side out mark in the set.

The Mountaineers rebounded in the second set. After committing eight attacking errors in the opening set, App State had just two in the second and won the set 25-20.

The Blue & Gold fought back in the third set. Despite allowing App State to take 15-13 and 22-20 leads, sophomore libero Melanie Morris went on a 4-0 run from the service line after the latter and the Bucs ultimately won the set 27-25. Senior outside hitter Amanda Lowe racked up five kills, leading the way for ETSU.

App State regained control of momentum in the fourth set, opening with a 9-2 run and not looking back. The Mountaineers won the set 25-15. The final set was back-and-forth until the end, when App State closed out the match with a narrow 15-13 win.

Lowe led the Bucs with 14 kills and a career-high three aces. Rhodes tallied 37 assists and nine digs, and senior middle blocker Abbey Thomas added six blocks.

App State was led by Maya Winterhoff and Maddie Smith, who had 15 kills each. Juliana Horta tallied 27 assists and Kenady Roper posted 10 digs for the Mountaineers.

In the afternoon match, ETSU bounced back to sweep Gardner-Webb. Lowe provided another strong effort with 13 kills. Rhodes added a 22 assist-11 dig double-double and Morris led the Blue & Gold with 13 digs. Junior outside hitter Brianna Cantrell also tied her career high with three aces.

The Bucs wasted no time in the first set, taking the lead at 7-6 and not looking back. The margin grew as wide as seven points as Lowe (six kills), Cantrell and junior middle blocker Whitley Rammel (four kills each) rained kills on the Runnin' Bulldogs defense. ETSU won the set 25-19. 

The Blue & Gold had perhaps their most dominant set of the day in the second set of the match. ETSU posted 68% on side outs, converting 11 of its 16 opportunities and did not record an attack error in the set. The Bucs were aided by four kills apiece from Thomas and graduate student right side Jenna Forster and 12 total errors from Gardner-Webb.

The third and final set was the closest, going to extra points. Neither squad was able to build a significant lead throughout the set, and the Runnin' Bulldogs closed to tie the set at 24 in an attempt to force a fourth set. Gardner-Webb never got its own match point, and Lowe's fifth kill of the set cinched the set and match for ETSU, 27-25.

Next, ETSU concludes the Mountaineer Classic at noon on Saturday, Sept. 7, vs. Kennesaw State. For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, follow @ETSUVolleyball on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and visit ETSUBucs.com.