JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - After two weekends on the road, East Tennessee State University's volleyball team returns home for a midweek matchup against South Carolina at 6 p.m. Tuesday, at Brooks Gymnasium. 

East Tennessee State (1-7) enters the week after picking up a 3-2 victory at the DEACTOWN Invitational, Sept. 12. Gianna Blair had 10 total blocks in the match for a career high. The Buccaneers hit .290 as a team, which was the highest of the season. The team's 65 kills match their season high that was set at Virginia Commonwealth, Sept. 4. 

The Buccaneers are third in the Southern Conference with a .208 hitting percentage and fourth with 11.1 assists, 389 team assists, 414 team kills, and 1,142 team attacks. Individually, Blair is second with 36 blocks and third with 1.13 blocks per set. Makayla Bays is second with 13 service aces, eighth with 306 attacks, and ninth with 3.06 kills per set. Melanie Morris is seventh in the conference with 110 total digs. 

South Carolina (6-2) most recently defeated Wofford, 3-1. Three Gamecocks had over 15 kills, and Kiana Dinn had 41 digs. Ava Leahy leads the team with 2.8 kills per set, as Dinn leads with 7.33 assists per set. 

This marks the seventh all-time meeting of the two teams, with South Carolina leading the series, 4-2. The last matchup was a 3-0 Gamecocks' win. Aug. 29, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. 

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 enters 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. 
• At the end of the 2025 season, Makayla Bays ranked first in the SoCon with 45 service aces and second with .40 aces per set, 3.92 kills per set, 506.5 points, 4.48 points per set, and 443 total kills. 
• Devine's 2026 coaching staff consists of Aaron Giorgi, who is in his third season with the program, and former ETSU Buc Isabella Iosua, who joins the staff this season. 
• At the end of the 2025 season, the Bucs were ranked first in the conference in nine categories: aces per set (1.66), assists per set (12.39), hitting percentage (.238), kills per set (13.23), match W-L percentage (.767), opponent hitting percentage (.177), team assists (1,400), team kills (1,495), and team service aces (188).

Scouting report

• South Carolina is 6-2 on the season with its only losses being to Michigan State and California.
• The Gamecocks are ranked third in the Southeastern Conference with 2.67 blocks per set and 80 blocks. 
• Lily Gillespie is second in the SEC with 141 digs and 4.7 digs per set. 
• Sydney Davis is second in the conference with 42 blocks and third with 1.45 blocks per set. 
• Elise Marchal is third with 37 blocks and ninth with 1.23 blocks per set. 
• Ava Leahy is ninth with a .394 hitting percentage and 20th with .97 blocks per set. 
• Olivia Borgman is 18th in the SEC with 3.23 kills per set.