East Tennessee State University

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - East Tennessee State University's volleyball team opened the Buccaneer Classic with losses to Akron and Auburn on Friday at Brooks Gymnasium.

East Tennessee State (0-2) lost the first two sets to Akron (1-0), but then battled back in the third and fourth to force the match to five sets. 

The Buccaneers went on an 8-0 run in the third to lead 16-8, as a kill by Sophie David followed by an attack error by the Zips gave the Bucs their largest lead of the set at 20-11. Akron also battled back, as a 7-2 run got them within one of the Bucs at 22-23. A kill by Karis Chatfield and a Zips attack error gave the Bucs the 25-22 third set win. 

The Bucs' momentum carried into the fourth set, as they led the Zips 24-10. Akron fought off a set point with a kill from Lauren Wilson, but another kill by Chatfield gave the Buccaneers the 25-11 fourth set win to send the match into a fifth set. Akron led early in the fifth set, going up 10-5 on the Bucs. East Tennessee State managed to cut their deficit to two at 13-11, but a Zips' kill and Bucs' attack error ended the match with the Zips taking the 3-2 victory. 

Much like the Akron match, the Buccaneers trailed two going into the third set against Auburn (2-0). The third set saw 18 ties and six lead changes. A kill by Makayla Bays, followed by a Tigers' attack error, gave the Bucs a 16-14 lead. Auburn came back, with a service error by the Bucs and a kill by Kate Mansfield gave the Tigers a 24-22 lead and forced an ETSU timeout. The two teams went back-and-forth. The Bucs fought off two Auburn set points, as a kill and an ace by Chatfield allowed the Bucs to force a fourth set. 

The Bucs and the Tigers found themselves tied at 10 to open the fourth and final set, but a quick 5-2 run by Auburn allowed the Tigers to lead 15-12. The Bucs would get as close as 22-19, but ultimately the 3-1 victory went to the Tigers. 

The Buccaneer Classic continues tomorrow as ETSU faces Liberty at 4 p.m.

Akron match points

• Makayla Bays and Karis Chatfield had 15 kills each. 
• Chatfield's .487 hitting percentage was a team high, as well as her three service aces.
• Alex Kreutzmann led with 23 assists as Melanie Morris had a team-high 14 digs. 
• Sophie Davis had four total blocks; two solo and two assisted.

Auburn match points

• Makayla Bays led with 18 kills.
• Alex Kreutzmann had 16 assists; Melanie Morris had 16 digs. 
• Gianna Blair and Malia Brinkman had four total blocks each. 
• The Bucs had 6 blocks compared to Auburn's 4.