JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - East Tennessee State University's volleyball team hits the road for the first time this season for the VCU Classic, Friday and Saturday, in Richmond, Virginia.

East Tennessee State (0-3) opened the season hosting the Buccaneer Classic, dropping matches to Akron, Auburn, and Liberty. 

Makayla Bays led the weekend with 47 kills as Karis Chatfield had 42. Chatfield led the team with seven aces and was named to the Buccaneer Classic All-Tournament team. 

The Bucs are set to face host Virginia Commonwealth and William & Mary. VCU (0-2) fell in four sets to Florida Gulf Coast and Florida State at the FGCU Invitational. 

William & Mary is 1-2 on the season, losing to Coppin State and Kent State but defeating Virginia Tech at the Hokie Invitational in its first week of action. 

The VCU Invitational begins Friday at the Siegel Center. The Bucs face VCU at 6 p.m. Friday, and William & Mary at 4 p.m. on Saturday. 

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

• The Bucs are 1-4 all-time against VCU. The last meeting was a 3-1 Bucs win in Johnson City, Sept. 12, 2025.
• The Rams are 0-2 on the season, most recently falling 3-1 to Florida State. 
• The Bucs are 0-2 all-time against William & Mary. The last matchup was a 3-2 Griffins' win.
• William & Mary is 1-2 on the season, falling to Coppin State and Kent State, but taking a 3-2 win over Virginia Tech at the Hokie Invitational.