JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 1, 2024) – East Tennessee State University volleyball entered November with a bang, taking down Samford 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 26-24, 18-25, 15-7).

Freshman outside hitter Makayla Bays continued her phenomenal streak with a 14 kill, 11 dig double-double to lead the Bucs (15-8, 7-4 SoCon). Senior middle blocker Abbey Thomas posted 12 kills on .579 hitting for her best qualified (12+ kills) mark of the season, along with four blocks. Graduate setter Reese Rhodes added a 40 assist, 15 dig double-double.

The Bucs got off on the right foot, taking set one. The two squads played to an 8-8 tie before eight of Samford's 11 attack errors in the set (five from ETSU blocks) began to swing the set in the Bucs' favor. Fresh off of being honored for recording her 750th career kill last weekend, senior outside hitter Amanda Lowe mashed a pair of momentum-securing kills. Thomas was dominant, recording five kills on six attempts and notched two of her four blocks in the opening frame, one of which was the penultimate point with Bays. 

The Bulldogs leveled the match at a set apiece in the second set. ETSU took a 15-11 lead into the media timeout, but Gracie Lynn Butler and Kaleigh Merritt each had five kills in the set (of their 16 and 13, respectively). Merritt tied the set twice, at 17 and 18, with kills, and Butler followed with a solo block and four kills to score Samford's next five points by herself, propelling the Bulldogs to the 25-21 set victory.

ETSU bounced back in the third to take the lead in the match. The set was back-and-forth throughout, with neither team able to take more than a four point advantage. Junior opposite Isabelle Iosua came up big for the Bucs, recording five kills in the set, including two that broke late Samford rallies. The Bulldogs were nonetheless able to stave off a pair of ETSU set points to tie the set at 24 before junior middle blocker Whitley Rammel gave the Bucs the set point back with a kill, and Lowe followed with one of her own to give ETSU a 26-24 set victory.

Samford battled back in the fourth set, racing out to a 9-3 lead and forcing an ETSU timeout. The Bucs rallied, drawing within one at 15-14 to force a Samford timeout and tying the set at 17. However, the Bulldogs took the next point and would not relinquish the lead, winning the set 25-18 to send the match to a decisive fifth set.

ETSU responded last in the final frame. After falling behind 2-0, a Samford service error put the ball in the hands of junior outside hitter Brianna Cantrell at the service line. Bays and Thomas each tallied kills to give the Bucs a 3-2 lead. A few points later, Bays broke a 5-5 tie to send sophomore setter Enisilina Savelio to the line. Savelio then spearheaded a momentum-clinching 6-0 run that featured yet another kill from Bays and a pair of Bucs blocks – one solo from Rammel and a combination from Rammel and Lowe. The Bulldogs added two more points, snapping the run, but Lowe gave ETSU a 15-7 set and match win with a kill.

The Bucs return to action at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, against Mercer. The first 50 students to arrive at Brooks Gym will receive free pizza provided by Johnny Brusco's, the official pizza sponsor of ETSU Athletics. For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, follow @ETSUVolleyball on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and visit ETSUBucs.com.