East Tennessee State University

Cullowhee, N.C. - East Tennessee State University's volleyball team ended the regular season with a 3-1 win at Western Carolina on Saturday. 

Western Carolina (11-20, 7-11 SoCon) took a 15-8 lead in the first set, as a kill by Phoenix Fogel and Catamount errors put East Tennessee State (14-15, 12-6 SoCon) down 15-11. Western Carolina continued to extend their lead as a Buc error and an ace by Ashlyn Cobb gave them a 22-15 lead. A 7-1 run by the Buccaneers allowed them to get within 23-22, as an error gave the Catamounts the set point at 24-22. A kill by Karis Chatfield got the Bucs back within 24-23, but a kill from JoJo Abeyta ended the set with WCU taking the 25-23 first-set win. 

The two teams went back-and-forth in the second set, with 14 tied scores. Western Carolina led 20-18, forcing an ETSU timeout. After the timeout, a Catamount error and a kill by Gianna Blair tied the set at 20. A kill by Elizabeth Aylward followed by a service ace from Kennedy Boatman allowed the Buccaneers a 23-22 lead, which was tied with a kill by Tatum Sharp. A kill by Chatfield followed by a Catamount error ended the second set with the Bucs taking the 25-23 win. 

A 6-0 run by the Buccaneers allowed them an 8-5 lead to open the third frame, as WCU responded with a run of their own to take a 13-11 lead. The two teams battled back and forth until a kill by Makayla Bays tied the set at 20. Back-to-back kills by Chatfield and an ace by Kennedy Boatman gave the Bucs a 24-22 lead, as a kill by WCU's Samantha Kranzler got the Catamounts within 24-23. A Catamount attack error ended the set with the Bucs taking the 25-23 third-set win. 

The fourth set saw 16 ties. A kill by Blair and a bad set from the Catamounts gave the Bucs a 20-18 lead; however, a kill by Cobb and a Buccaneer error tied the set at 20. Kills by Chatfield and Chloe Smith allowed the Bucs a 23-22 lead, as two Catamount errors and a kill by Fogel would tie the set at 25. A kill by Smith followed by a WCU error would end the set with the Bucs taking the 27-25 fourth-set win for the 3-1 match. 

Match Points

• Karis Chatfield led with 20 kills. She had 24 digs for a double-double.
• Alex Kreutzmann led with 26 assists. She had 12 digs for a double-double.
• Kennedy Boatman led with three service aces. 
• Melanie Morris led with 28 digs. 
• Gianna Blair led with four blocks. 
• The team's 98 digs and 63 assists are a season high.