JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - East Tennessee State University's volleyball team opens Southern Conference play Thursday and Friday at Samford at the Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Alabama. 

East Tennessee State (2-9) concluded the nonconference slate at the WKU Invitational. The Buccaneers lost in five sets to Oklahoma and three sets to Western Kentucky. Sophie Davis had 19 kills against the Sooners as the team's 76 digs were a season high. 

Samford (3-7) most recently took a 3-1 win over Alabama-Birmingham on Sunday. Alison Ohlinger earned Southern Conference Setter of the Week honors after averaging 10.18 assists per set.  

This will be the 31st all-time meeting of the two teams, with ETSU leading the series, 16-14. The last meeting was a 3-1 Buccaneer win, Oct. 31, at Brooks Gym.

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. 
• On Sept. 15, the Buccaneers defeated South Carolina, 3-2, at Brooks Gym. This marked the Bucs' first win over an SEC opponent since their 3-2 decision over Tennessee, Sept. 4, 2018. Three Buccaneers had double-doubles in the win: Alex Kreutzmann 31 assists/10 digs, Makayla Bays 11 kills/15 digs, and Karis Chatfield 12 kills/10 digs. The team had a season-high 68 kills and 63 assists. 
• The Bucs are third in the SoCon with a .203 hitting percentage. Their 11.17 assists and 536 assists rank fourth. 
• Gianna Blair is fourth with 1.02 blocks and 46 total blocks. 
• Makayla Bays is fifth with 18 service aces, seventh with 164.5 points, and ninth with 2.94 kills per set and 405 total attacks. 
• Melanie Morris is eighth with 135 total digs. 
• Makayla Bays leads the team with 141 kills and 18 service aces. Her 113 digs are second on the team. Alex Kreutzmann's 217 assists rank first on the squad. Her eight service aces and 77 digs rank third. Melanie Morris is first on the team with 135 digs, while Gianna Blair's 46.0 blocks pace the squad. 

Scouting report

• Samford is 3-7 on the season with wins over UAB, Belmont, and Jacksonville State. 
• The Bulldogs are first in the SoCon with 2.36 blocks per set and 36.44 total team attacks. 
• Hazel Slusher is first in the conference with 1.34 blocks per set.
• Alison Ohlinger is second with 9.79 assists per set and fifth with 382 total assists. 
• Ally Cordes is second with 12.28 attacks per set, fourth with 4.08 points per set, fifth with 479 total attacks, and 13th with 121 digs.