JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – East Tennessee State University's volleyball team concludes the regular season with a weekend series at Western Carolina, Friday and Saturday.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Friday, Nov. 12, 2026 at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. | Ramsey Center
Teams: ETSU (12-15, 10-6 SoCon) vs. Western Carolina (11-18, 7-9 SoCon)
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
X: @ETSU_volleyball
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS- Western Carolina is 11-18 on the season and 7-9 in SoCon play. The Catamounts fell 3-1 in both of their last weekend's series at Tennessee Tech. The Catamounts are first in the SoCon with 1,817 digs and 4,176 attacks. Ashlyn Cobb is first in the conference with .42 aces per set, and her 38 service aces are sixth. Elise Gurley is second with 501 total digs and third with 4.36 digs per set. Katie Boney is fifth with 9.52 assists per set and ninth with 34 service aces. Zoe Zudans is fifth with 1,042 attacks and seventh with 9.56 attacks per set. Tatum Sharp's 392.5 points and 95 blocks are seventh.
THE SOCON TOURNAMENT- The SoCon Tournament will take place from November 19-22 at the Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, N.C. The first through the sixth seeded teams earn a first-round bye into the quarterfinals on Nov. 20, as the seventh through tenth seeds will play the first round on Nov. 19. More information can be found on the SoCon's Championship page.
AROUND THE SOCON- Gianna Blair is ranked second in the SoCon with 112 blocks. Her 1.12 blocks per set rank third.
Makayla Bays is second with 41 service aces, fifth with .39 aces per set, eighth with 3.04 kills per set, 929 total attacks, and 322 kills, as her 377.5 points rank ninth.
Melanie Morris' 351 digs are seventh in the conference.
CURRENT LEADERBOARD- Makayla Bays leads the team with 322 kills and 41 service aces.
Alex Kreutzmann is first on the team with 476 assists.
Melanie Morris paces the team with 351 digs, as
Gianna Blair leads with 11 blocks.
DEVINE'S 19th SEASON- Head Coach
Lindsey Devine is in her 19th season at the helm of ETSU volleyball. Devine was named the Southern Conference's Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in her ETSU career in 2025. Devine guided the Bucs to a SoCon regular-season title for the eighth time in program history and the fourth time in her tenure, and the 19th 20-win season in program history. The Bucs' 15-1 SoCon record last season was the best conference record in program history, which earned them the regular season title.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: MELANIE MORRIS- Melanie Morris earned her first career SoCon Weekly Honors on Oct. 19 as she was named the league's Defensive Player of the Week. The senior started and played in all nine sets for the Buccaneers' two wins over Wofford. She had 40 total digs, 20 in each win over the Terriers, for an average of 4.44 per set. Over the season, the Maryville, Tennessee native averages 3.30 digs per set and has 1327 total career digs. She leads the 2026 team with 301 digs, which rank sixth in the SoCon.
For news and updates on the Buccaneers' 2026 season, follow the volleyball team on X and Instagram (@etsuvolleyball) or check back in on etsubucs.com.
