Winston-Salem, N.C. — The Carolina University Women's Volleyball team delivered a strong performance over the weekend at the CAC Classic, finishing with a 3-2 record in Continental Athletic Conference play. Across three days of intense competition, the Bruins showcased both resilience and depth, highlighted by a record-breaking defensive effort and a marquee win to close the weekend.
Day 1 – Friday, October 9: Two Wins to Open the Classic
Carolina University opened the CAC Classic in dominant fashion, going 2-0 on the day.
In the morning match, the Bruins earned a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Haskell Indian Nations University, pulling through in the fifth set 15–10. Senior outside hitter SarahElizabeth Samuels led the way with 16 kills, while Karli Totel and Britney Comolli added 13 and 14 kills, respectively. Freshman libero Kai Horta anchored the back row with an impressive 31 digs, and setter Syvannah Poore distributed 39 assists in the win.
In the evening matchup, Carolina kept its momentum rolling with a 3–1 win over Fisher College. Totel again paced the attack with 16 kills on a .289 hitting percentage, while Comolli added 13 kills and Samuels contributed seven. Poore orchestrated the offense with 25 assists, and Horta continued her defensive excellence with 18 digs.
Day 2 – Saturday, October 10: Five-Set Thriller vs. Defending Champions
On the second day, Carolina pushed defending conference champions Florida College to the brink before falling 3–2. The Bruins took the first two sets 25–17 and 25–21 before Florida College rallied to win the next three.
Comolli tallied 14 kills, Totel hit an efficient .342 with 16 kills, and setter Poore posted another 26 assists. Horta recorded 22 digs to lead the defense, while Jordan Connolly added eight kills and three blocks in a valiant effort that highlighted Carolina's growing competitiveness against top CAC programs.
Day 3 – Sunday, October 11: Record-Breaking Defense and a Statement Win
The Bruins faced another tough challenge in their first match Sunday, falling to Florida National University in four sets. Despite the loss, freshman libero Kai Horta etched her name into Carolina University history, breaking the single-match record with 35 digs. Her performance set a new defensive benchmark for the program.
Carolina regrouped in their final contest of the weekend, defeating Hesston College 3–1 to close the tournament on a high note. Connolly led the team with 11 kills, while Rachel Powell and Karli Totel added eight and ten, respectively. Setter Natalia Cano dished out 15 assists, and Horta capped off her exceptional weekend with 27 digs in the win.
Coach's Corner
Head Coach Chelsea Jones praised her team's grit and growth throughout the tournament weekend:
"I'm incredibly proud of how this group battled. We faced five competitive programs in three days, and our players showed tremendous heart, especially coming together after tough moments. Kai's record-breaking performance was a reflection of our defensive toughness as a whole. We're continuing to grow stronger each week, and this weekend proved we can compete with anyone in our conference."
UP NEXT
Carolina University now looks ahead to the remainder of their schedule, carrying strong momentum and confidence after a successful CAC Classic showing at Williams Gymnasium. Carolina University Women's Volleyball team is back in action Tuesday October 14 against Ferrum College with the match starting at 6 p.m. This match is also the annual DIG Pink Match that the volleyball team hosts every year.
