East Tennessee State University

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Led by Elizabeth Aylward's 10 kills and Gianna Blair's three blocks, the East Tennessee State University volleyball team defeated Southern Conference opponent Tennessee Tech, 3-0, on Friday. 

East Tennessee State (10-14, 8-5 SoCon) jumped out to a 13-7 lead from a kill by Raegan Waller and a Tennessee Tech (10-15, 6-7 SoCon) error to force a Golden Eagle timeout. Three kills by Tennessee Tech allowed them to get within 14-12. ETSU built its lead to as many as 23-16 with a kill and ace by Makayla Bays followed by a kill from Waller. The Golden Eagles went on a 5-0 run to get within 23-21, but a kill by Karis Chatfield and Elizabeth Aylward ended the set with the Bucs taking the 25-21 win. 

Tennessee Tech took control of the second set with a 9-7 lead on a Buccaneer error. The Bucs managed to tie with a block by Gianna Blair and take the lead with kills by Bays and Chloe Smith at 15. The two teams traded shots; kills by Aylward and Waller allowed the Bucs to lead 20-18. TTU took a 21-20 lead from a Bucs error, an ace, and a kill, but Aylward tied it back up at 21 with a kill assisted by Melanie Morris. A kill by TTU's Alayna Pierce gave them the 22-21 lead, but the Buccaneers would end the set on a 4-1 run, including a kill by Aylward and Blair, with a kill by Smith ending the set with the Bucs taking the 25-23 win. 

ETSU began the third set with a 5-0 run, including three kills by Bays and one by Smith. The Golden Eagles responded with a 7-0 run to lead by two. The Buccaneers fought back with a 6-2 run to lead 11-9. ETSU extended its lead with kills by Smith and a service ace from Morris, allowing them to lead 18-13. The Bucs continued to dominate, as a service ace by Bays gave them a 23-16 lead. The Golden Eagles got as close as 24-19, fighting off a match point with a kill by Pierce, but a kill by Blair assisted by Bailey Gohlke ended the match with the Bucs taking the third set, 25-19 for the 3-0 match. 

The Bucs are back in action tomorrow to face the Golden Eagles at 2 p.m. (CT), 3 p.m. (ET).

Match Points

• Elizabeth Aylward led with 10 kills. 
• Chloe Smith and Makayla Bays had eight each. 
• Bailey Gohlke had 18 assists.
• Melanie Morris led with four service aces. 
• Alex Kreutzmann had 11 digs; Karis Chatfield had 10. 
• Gianna Blair had three total blocks. 
• Blair also surpassed 250 career kills with her six kills.