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East Tennessee State University

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Ben Richards

Women's Volleyball

Volleyball set to host The Citadel and Furman

Bucs look to advance to 6-0 in SoCon play

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - East Tennessee State volleyball continues Southern Conference play on Thursday evening versus The Citadel at 6 p.m. and Friday evening versus Furman at 6 p.m. in Brooks Gym.
 
THE CITADEL

Match Information:
East Tennessee State vs. The Citadel
Oct. 9 | 6 p.m. | Johnson City, Tenn. | Brooks Gymnasium
PINK OUT!
Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Matchup Notes:
  • In the previous meeting, The Citadel defeated ETSU in four sets after ETSU defeated them in five during the 2024 season. In the last outing, Amanda Lowe led with 14 kills and six digs while Abbey Thomas, Brianna Cantrell and Enisilina Savelio each dished two aces. Melanie Morris led backrow defense with 16 digs.
  • The first meeting of the two programs was in 1998 where ETSU swept The Citadel.
  • ETSU leads the series at 30-5.
VS. FURMAN

Match Information:
East Tennessee State vs. Furman
Oct. 10 | 6 p.m. | Johnson City, Tenn. | Brooks Gymnasium
Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Matchup Notes:
  • In the previous meeting, ETSU defeated Furman in five sets during the 2024 SoCon Tournament after 3-0 and 3-1 wins during the regular season. In the five set tournament win, Whitley Rammel tallied 14 kills on a .565 clip with four total blocks and six digs.  Melanie Morris reached her career-high of 26 digs with 32 flawless receptions.  Brianna Cantrell dished four aces and collected 11 digs.
  • The first meeting of the two programs was in 1984 where ETSU swept Furman.
  • The Bucs have the advantage in the series at 37-36.
2025 NOTABLE MOMENTS
  • Whitley Rammel had back-to-back offensive career outings with a .563 clip on 11 kills at Western Carolina and a .538 clip on eight kills at Samford.  She totaled 19 kills, eight total blocks, two aces and six digs through the eight sets played.
  • Melanie Morris boasted a season-best weekend with 21 digs at Western Carolina and 24 digs at Samford for 5.625 digs per set through the weekend.
  • Makayla Bays posted her fourth double-double of the season and the 10th of her career at Western Carolina with 13 kills and 12 digs.
  • Makayla Bays accumulated a career-high 24 kills for the second time in two weeks versus Chattanooga, totaling 41 kills at 5.13 k/s over the span of the opening two conference matches.
  • Sophie Davis boasted career-highs in kills and block assists in the win over Chattanooga with 12 kills and five block assists to be one of the top offensive and defensive producers in the match for the Bucs.
  • Bailey Gohlke recorded her second and third career double-doubles in the Hokie Classic with 23 assists and 13 digs at Virginia Tech and 15 assists with 10 digs versus Middle Tennessee State.
  • Whitley Rammel collected three block solos in the match against Virginia Tech, marking a career-high and capturing the team single-match lead for block solos.
  • Whitley Rammel boasted an elusive kills-blocks double-double in the five-set win over High Point, tallying 12 kills and 10 total blocks.  
  • The Buccaneer Classic was highlighted by Rammel's contributions:
    • vs. VCU - 13 kills, .423 attack percentage, two aces, five block assists
    • vs. WKU - 12 kills, .500 attack percentage, one block solo, two block assists
    • vs. HPU - 12 kills, one block solo, nine block assists, double-double
    • Total - 37 kills at 3.08/set, .392 attack percentage, two aces, six digs, two block solos, 16 block assists
  • Makayla Bays accumulated a career-high 24 kills versus High Point, upending her previous career-high of 19 set against American.
  • Isabelle Iosua reached 14 kills for a career-high against High Point.
  • Sophie Davis dished three consecutive service aces to open a set versus Western Kentucky.
  • Bailey Gohlke collected her first career double-double (19 A, 10 D) in the program's first win in the 2025 campaign, leading the offense in the sweep of American to a .377 hitting percentage.
2025 honors and awards

Makayla Bays - Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 22)
Isabelle Iosua - Hokie Classic All-Tournament Team
Makayla Bays - Hokie Classic MVP
Whitley Rammel - Buccaneer Classic All-Tournament Team
Makayla Bays - Gamecock Classic All-Tournament Team
Brianna Cantrell - Preseason All-SoCon
Whitley Rammel - Preseason All-SoCon
 
ABOUT THE SQUAD
  • East Tennessee State volleyball enters its 47th season of competition in the 2025 campaign.
  • Lindey Devine returns for her 18th season as head coach of East Tennessee State volleyball, and for her second consecutive season.
  • Devine returned eight from the 2024 roster and added seven freshmen to complete the 2025 roster.  The squad is comprised of three seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and seven freshmen.
  • Emily Arnold and Aaron Giorgi return for their second seasons with the program after joining the staff prior to the 2024 season.
  • Brianna Cantrell, the 2022 SoCon Freshman of the Year, was tabbed to the 2025 Preseason All-SoCon team.  The senior outside hitter has accumulated 14 double-doubles, 799 kills, 35 assists, 71 aces, 673 digs and 101 total blocks across her three previous seasons with the program.
  • Whitley Rammel was tabbed to the 2025 Preseason All-SoCon team after a standout 2024 season where she totaled 208 kills on a .327 season-long clip with 25 block solos and 73 block assists.
  • The squad faces competition from 10 conferences (SEC, CAA, ACC, Patriot League, MAC, Horizon League, A-10, CUSA, Big South, and SoCon) across the 27 scheduled contests.
  • Brooks Gymnasium will house action for 10 of 17 matches in the 2025 campaign and tickets can be purchased here.
2025 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL

2025 Southern Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Wofford (5) - 61
2. Samford (3) - 54
3. ETSU - 51
4. Furman (1) - 47
5. Chattanooga - 29
    UNCG - 29
7. The Citadel - 23
8. Mercer - 18
9. Western Carolina - 12
() denotes first-place votes

2025 Southern Conference Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team
Brianna Cantrell, ETSU, OH
Whitley Rammel, ETSU, MB/RS

Izzy Castelloe, Furman, MB
Sophia Henry, Mercer, OH/RS
Allie Sweet, UNCG, OH
Kaleigh Meritt, Samford, OH
Kynli Kirkendoll, Chattanooga, MB
Bradley Brown, Wofford, MB
Laney Klika, Wofford, LIB
Bri Mahoney, Wofford, OH
 
2024 SEASON
  • Lindsey Devine returned to the helm of the East Tennessee State volleyball program in the 2024 season, turning around a 6-23 season from 2023 to go 19-11 in the 2024 schedule.
  • Devine was selected as the 2024 SoCon Coach of the Year for the third time in her career for her immense success in her first year back with the program.
  • ETSU led the SoCon in total blocks (259.5) and blocks/set (2.32) in the 2024 slate.
  • The squad finished third in the 2024 SoCon Tournament, falling to tournament champion Wofford 3-1 in the semifinals.
  • Abbey Thomas and Reese Rhodes were respectively tabbed to the All-SoCon Second Team for their efforts in the 2024 season while Makayla Bays was selected to the SoCon All-Freshman team after tallying six double-doubles and career-highs of 15 kills, 17 digs and three block assists through her debut year.
  • The Bucs were selected to finish sixth in the SoCon Preseason Poll, yet finished third overall in the regular season.
  • 2024 Team Leaders: Kills - Amanda Lowe, 315 | Assists - Reese Rhodes, 1052 | Aces - Reese Rhodes, 41 | Digs - Melanie Morris, 461 | Block Solos - Abbey Thomas, 37 | Block Assists - Abbey Thomas, 87
  • Jenna Forster was tabbed to the Preseason All-SoCon team.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Season, single-game and group tickets can be purchased here.
For more information on Buccaneer women's volleyball, follow @ETSUvolleyball on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and visit ETSUBucs.com
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Players Mentioned

Jenna Forster

#2 Jenna Forster

RS
6' 0"
Graduate Student
Amanda Lowe

#15 Amanda Lowe

OH/RS
6' 2"
Senior
Enisilina Savelio

#8 Enisilina Savelio

S
5' 11"
Sophomore
Abbey Thomas

#5 Abbey Thomas

MB
5' 10"
Senior
Reese  Rhodes

#18 Reese Rhodes

S
6' 1"
Graduate Student
Makayla Bays

#14 Makayla Bays

OH
5' 11"
Sophomore
Brianna Cantrell

#7 Brianna Cantrell

OH
5' 10"
Senior
Isabelle Iosua

#9 Isabelle Iosua

OPP
6' 0"
Senior
Melanie Morris

#11 Melanie Morris

DS/L
5' 8"
Junior
Whitley Rammel

#19 Whitley Rammel

MB/RS
6' 3"
Senior
Bailey Gohlke

#17 Bailey Gohlke

S
5' 11"
Freshman
Sophie Davis

#2 Sophie Davis

OH
5' 11"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jenna Forster

#2 Jenna Forster

6' 0"
Graduate Student
RS
Amanda Lowe

#15 Amanda Lowe

6' 2"
Senior
OH/RS
Enisilina Savelio

#8 Enisilina Savelio

5' 11"
Sophomore
S
Abbey Thomas

#5 Abbey Thomas

5' 10"
Senior
MB
Reese  Rhodes

#18 Reese Rhodes

6' 1"
Graduate Student
S
Makayla Bays

#14 Makayla Bays

5' 11"
Sophomore
OH
Brianna Cantrell

#7 Brianna Cantrell

5' 10"
Senior
OH
Isabelle Iosua

#9 Isabelle Iosua

6' 0"
Senior
OPP
Melanie Morris

#11 Melanie Morris

5' 8"
Junior
DS/L
Whitley Rammel

#19 Whitley Rammel

6' 3"
Senior
MB/RS
Bailey Gohlke

#17 Bailey Gohlke

5' 11"
Freshman
S
Sophie Davis

#2 Sophie Davis

5' 11"
Freshman
OH