JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - East Tennessee State University's volleyball team gave Wofford its first Southern Conference loss of the season with a 3-2 match on Friday at Brooks Gym.
East Tennessee State (7-12, 5-3 SoCon) and Wofford (14-6, 7-1 SoCon) traded points to open the first set, seeing 22 ties and 11 lead changes. A Buccaneer error tied the set at 23, but a kill by Aylward gave the Bucs the 24-23 set point. The Terriers fought off five Buccaneer set points, but ultimately a kill by Bays and a Terrier error gave the Bucs the 31-19 first set win.
ETSU carried its momentum over into the second set, opening with a 7-4 lead on a kill by
Phoenix Fogel. The teams traded points, but a kill by Bradley Brown tied the set at 12. A 8-0 run by ETSU, including two service aces by
Bailey Gohlke and kills by Fogel and
Karis Chatfield, allowed them to lead 18-12. The Terriers would get as close as 24-20, but a block by Fogel and
Elizabeth Aylward ended the set with the Bucs taking the 25-20 win.
After more back-and-forth action, the two teams found themselves tied at 19 in the third set with a block by Chatfield and
Gianna Blair, which forced a Wofford timeout. Three consecutive points by the Terriers allowed them to lead 22-20. The Bucs would get back within one at 23-22 from a Terriers' error, but the Terriers would take the final two points of the set for the 25-22 win.
The Terriers took control of the fourth frame as a 5-0 run gave them a 17-10 lead. Wofford extended its lead with a 4-0 run, eventually taking the 25-15 fourth-set win.
ETSU and Wofford traded points to open the fifth set as a kill by
Elizabeth Aylward tied the set at 7. A kill by Chatfield and a Terrier error gave the Bucs the lead. A kill and a block from Chatfield paired with a Terrier error gave ETSU a 13-10 lead, with a kill by
Makayla Bays giving them the 14-10 match point. Wofford's Bradley Brown fought off one Buccaneer set point with a kill, but a solo block by Fogel ended the set, giving the Buccaneers the 15-11 set for the 3-2 victory.
The Buccaneers are back in action tomorrow at 2 p.m. as they face Wofford at Brooks Gym.
Match points
