MONTREAT, N.C. – The Carolina University Women's Volleyball team returned to the court Tuesday evening with a strong performance, sweeping Montreat College in straight sets (25-14, 25-14, 25-18) at McAlister Gymnasium. The Bruins delivered an impressive all-around effort as they continued their push toward the .500 mark late in the regular season.
Entering Tuesday night's matchup looking to build momentum and get back on track in the win column, Carolina University controlled the match from start to finish. The Bruins showcased an efficient offensive attack, aggressive serving, and a strong defensive presence to secure the three-set victory over the Cavaliers.
Carolina University established its dominance early, taking the opening set 25-14 behind 14 kills and a .273 hitting percentage. The Bruins maintained their momentum in the second set, once again holding Montreat to just 14 points to take a commanding 2-0 advantage. Carolina closed out the match with a 25-18 victory in the third set, producing its highest hitting percentage of the evening at .292.
Offensively, the Bruins were led by SarahElizabeth Samuels, Melia Coleman, and Britney Comolli, who each recorded eight kills. Comolli delivered an especially efficient performance, hitting .467 with just one attacking error on 15 attempts while adding four block assists. Coleman made her presence felt at the net, contributing an impressive nine block assists to go along with her eight kills.
The Bruins also received strong contributions from Rileigh Franklin, who finished with five kills, while Jordan Connolly added four kills on a .375 hitting percentage.
Carolina University's setters played a significant role in the offensive success, with Syvannah Poore distributing a team-high 20 assists and Natalia Cano adding eight. Defensively, Charlee Hale anchored the back row with a match-high 13 digs, helping limit Montreat's offensive opportunities throughout the evening.
As a team, Carolina University finished with 37 kills, a .231 hitting percentage, 11 service aces, and 22 block assists. The Bruins' defensive effort held Montreat to just 23 kills and a .034 hitting percentage, highlighting Carolina's ability to control the match on both sides of the net.
Head Coach Chelsea Jones was pleased with her team's effort and emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency as the regular season continues.
"I thought our team came out with great energy and played with a sense of urgency tonight," said Jones. "We did a really good job of controlling the tempo, being aggressive from the service line, and executing defensively. At this point in the season, every match is important, and we have to continue building confidence and playing together. I'm proud of the way our team responded, and now our focus shifts to carrying this momentum into Friday's matches."
With the victory, Carolina University improved to 15-16 overall, while Montreat College fell to 6-18 on the season. The Bruins will look to continue their winning ways as they return home for another opportunity to reach the .500 mark.
Up Next: Carolina University will return to its home court on Friday, October 30, when the Bruins host Washington Adventist University in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. The Bruins will look to capitalize on Tuesday's road victory and continue building momentum as the regular season approaches its conclusion.
