Milligan, Tenn. – As the 2025 regular season winds down, Head Coach Chelsea Jones and the Carolina University Women's Volleyball team competed in their final Tri-Match of the year on Saturday, facing Johnson University (TN) and Milligan University in Milligan, Tennessee. The Bruins battled hard through two competitive matches but came up short against both opponents as they continue preparing for postseason play.

Match 1: Johnson University 3, Carolina 0

(25–11, 25–19, 25–18)

In the opening match of the day, Carolina faced a strong Johnson University squad that entered with one of the best records. The Bruins struggled early to find offensive rhythm but showed fight in sets two and three before falling in straight sets.

Britney Comolli led the attack with 8 kills, while Kammi Naudé added 5 kills and 3 blocks. Setter Syvannah Poore dished out 11 assists and contributed 11 digs, displaying her two-way presence. Melia Coleman hit efficiently at .250 with 2 kills, and Rachel Powell contributed 3 kills.

Defensively, the Bruins totaled 42 digs, highlighted by Poore and Charlee Hale, while Natalia Cano recorded 6 assists and Emma-Grace Dubuc added a service ace.

Match 2: Milligan University 3, Carolina 1

(19–25, 25–20, 25–21, 25–15)

In the second contest of the day, Carolina came out strong, taking the first set 25–19 behind an efficient team attack of .412 hitting percentage. However, Milligan's offense caught fire in the later sets, rallying to win three straight to close out the match.

Karli Totel and Jordan Connolly each tallied 9 kills, while Kammi Naudé and Britney Comolli added 8 kills apiece. Melia Coleman turned in one of her better offensive performances of the season, hitting .545 with 7 kills and 2 block assists. Setter Syvannah Poore directed the offense with 21 assists, and Natalia Cano contributed 22 assists and 5 service aces in a dynamic setting duo performance.

Defensively, Charlee Hale anchored the back row with 24 digs, and Rachel Powell recorded 2 blocks and 6 digs. Carolina totaled 10 team blocks and 76 digs in one of their most competitive defensive efforts of the season.

Looking Ahead

With the Tri-Match complete, the Bruins will close out regular-season play with two road matchups:

• Tuesday, November 4 at Paine College (6 p.m.)
   

• Friday, November 8 at Guilford College (6 p.m.)
   

Coach Jones emphasized the team's resilience and growth as they head into the final week of the season:

"We've continued to make strides in our consistency and communication," said Coach Jones. "This group competes hard every night, and I'm proud of how we've fought through a tough stretch. We're focused on finishing the regular season strong and carrying that energy into the postseason."