ROCK HILL, S.C. — On Wednesday night, November 19, Carolina University Women's Volleyball made its eighth consecutive appearance in the NCCAA South Region Tournament Championship, traveling to Rock Hill to face host Clinton College with a berth to the NCCAA National Tournament on the line. For the second straight year, the Bruins and the Golden Bears met in the title match, marking their first head-to-head contest of the 2025 season.

Despite a strong effort and several standout individual performances, Carolina University fell in a tightly contested five-set battle (24–26, 25–18, 25–21, 20–25, 10–15) to conclude the 2025 campaign with a 21–16 overall record.

Match Highlights

Carolina showed resilience throughout the night, responding to an opening-set loss with back-to-back set wins before Clinton College rallied late.

• SarahElizabeth Samuels led the Bruins' attack with 16 kills, hitting .243 while adding 5 digs, 1 solo block, and 1 block assist (17.5 points).
   

• Britney Comolli delivered one of her strongest performances of the postseason, finishing with 10 kills and hitting .290.
   

• Kammi Naude added efficient offense with 7 kills on .600 hitting.
   

• Setter Syvannah Poore guided the offense with 25 assists, while also contributing 7 digs and an ace.
   

• Kai Horta anchored the back row with a team-high 18 digs, and Charlee Hale added 14 digs.
   

• Team totals: 44 kills, 71 digs, 6 aces, and 8 total blocks.
   

Despite Carolina's balanced scoring and defensive grit, Clinton College's late momentum—highlighted by a 15-10 win in the decisive fifth set—ultimately secured the regional championship for the hosts.

Coach's Commentary

Head Coach Chelsea Jones reflected on both the match and the season with pride:

"Our team left everything on the floor tonight. We battled through every point, and I'm incredibly proud of the heart and competitiveness our players showed. Making it to the South Region Championship for eight straight years is a testament to the standard of this program.

While this wasn't the ending we wanted, this group grew tremendously, overcame challenges, and represented Carolina University with class. A 21-win season is something to be proud of, and the foundation built this year will carry us forward."

Season Reflection

With the loss, Carolina University concludes an impressive 21–16 season. The Bruins once again positioned themselves among the region's best, earning a return trip to the championship match and continuing a tradition of postseason excellence.

The program now turns its attention to offseason development and preparation for the 2026 campaign, with strong momentum and a core group poised to build on this year's success.