JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Coming off a strong weekend on the road, East Tennessee State University's volleyball team is back at home to face Wofford Friday and Saturday at Brooks Gym.
East Tennessee State (6-12, 4-3 SoCon) swept Chattanooga on the road last weekend, taking 3-0 victories in both matches. The Buccaneers' .396 hitting percentage in the Oct. 10 match was the highest of the season and the highest by the team since they hit .400 against the Citadel, Oct. 9, 2025.
Makayla Bays recorded 43 kills across three matches while averaging 3.91 kills per set. She posted 19 kills, her high of the week, in the win over UNCG and had 16 kills in the Oct. 9 Chattanooga win, where she also recorded her best hitting percentage of the week.
Melanie Morris helped lead the Buccaneers to three wins during the third week of conference play, with 46 digs and averaging 4.18 digs per set. She recorded a team-high 21 digs in the win over UNCG, followed by 15 digs in the Oct. 9 victory at Chattanooga and 10 in the Oct. 10 win over the Mocs.
Bailey Gohlke led with 71 assists across three matches. She had a high of 31 assists in the win over UNCG and added 21 and 19 assists, respectively, in the two victories at Chattanooga. Gohlke also posted a week-best .613 setting percentage in the Oct. 10 win over Chattanooga and finished the three matches with a .452 setting percentage.
Wofford (14-5, 7-0 SoCon) took two victories at Samford over the weekend and is on the program's best start to conference play since 2023. Chloe Smith and Laney Klika were named offensive and defensive players of the week for the Southern Conference for their performances over the week. Klika averaged 5.60 digs per set last week, while Smith averaged 5.00 kills.
For news and updates ahead of the Buccaneers' 2026 season, follow the volleyball team on X and Instagram (@etsuvolleyball) or check back in on
etsubucs.com.
Match Points
- Lindsey Devine is in her 19th season at the helm of ETSU volleyball; her third consecutive season.
- Devine earned her fourth regular-season title last season; the eighth in program history.
- The 2026 squad consists of 11 returners, five freshmen, and one transfer.
- The reigning SoCon Player of the Year, Makayla Bays, was selected as a Preseason All-Conference selection after her standout sophomore campaign.
- Makayla Bays leads the team on the season with 222 kills and 25 service aces. Alex Kreutzmann is first on the team with 352 assists, while Melanie Morris leads with 227 digs. Gianna Blair paces the Bucs with 72 blocks.
- ETSU is ranked fourth in the SoCon with 11.75 assists per set, 858 assists, and a .207 hitting percentage.
- Gianna Blair is third in the SoCon with 1.04 blocks per set and fourth with 72 blocks. Makayla Bays is fourth with 25 service aces, and eighth with 3.04 kills per set, 255.0 points, 222 kills, and ninth with 625 total attacks. Melanie Morris is seventh in the conference with 227 total digs, while Karis Chatfield ranks 11th with 2.92 kills per set.
Scouting report
- Wofford is first in the conference with 13.01 assists per set, 16.79 digs per set, a .260 hitting percentage, 13.93 kills per set, 937 assists, and 1,003 kills.
- Chloe Smith leads the SoCon with .43 aces per set and 31 service aces. She is second with 4.49 points per set and third with 10.92 attacks per set. Laney Klika leads with 5.46 digs per set and 393 total digs, which ranks second in Division I. Bradley Brown leads the conference with a .373 hitting percentage.
