SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Nov. 9, 2024) – East Tennessee State University volleyball beat Wofford 3-2 (21-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-23, 15-13) in Spartanburg on Saturday night.

Graduate right side Jenna Forster set a new career high with 23 kills on .556 hitting. Junior middle blocker Whitley Rammel posted 12 kills and five blocks (four solo), and freshman outside hitter Makayla Bays recorded a ten kill, 17 dig double-double that marked her career high in the latter category. 

The two squads played to an 11-11 tie in the opening frame before Terriers took an 18-14 lead. ETSU kept the lead from growing, but was unable to come back and Wofford took the set 25-21. 

The Bucs rallied in the second set. ETSU and Wofford got out even to an 8-8 tie. Then, graduate setter Reese Rhodes set senior middle blocker Abbey Thomas for a kill before heading to the service line, spearheading a 5-0 run. Forster recorded seven of her kills in the set as the Blue & Gold took the set 25-16.

Wofford took the third set behind a balanced attack, with six Terriers tallying kills. ETSU extended an 18-15 lead from a 15-15 tie, but Wofford came back to lead 23-19 and won the set 25-21.

With their backs against the wall, the Bucs answered the call in the fourth set. Wofford opened an early lead, but ETSU kept it close and came back to tie the set at 15-all. Then, junior outside hitter Brianna Cantrell notched three kills in four points to give the Bucs an 18-16 lead. Forster took over from there, adding three kills of her own in ETSU's next seven points, including the one that gave the Bucs the 25-23 set win to level the match at two apiece.

In the deciding set, ETSU jumped out to a quick 7-4 lead behind a pair of kills from Forster and Rammel, forcing a Wofford timeout. The Terriers rallied to tie it at 8-8 before a Wofford service error and an ace from sophomore libero Melanie Morris put ETSU back in front 10-8. The Terriers answered again, rattling off four straight points to take a 12-10 lead. With the win just three points away for Wofford, Thomas got a block to bring the Bucs back within one, and a Wofford error leveled the match again at 12. Rhodes got the ball at the service line and promptly recorded her 39th ace of the season to give ETSU the lead. Forster then set her career high with her 23rd kill of the night. Wofford got a kill to save one set point, but a Terriers service error gave ETSU the 15-13 set and match win.

Next, the Bucs travel to Western Carolina at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 for the penultimate match of the regular season. The match will be available on ESPN+ and live stats can be found here. 

For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, follow @ETSUVolleyball on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and visit ETSUBucs.com.