KINGSPORT, Tenn. — The Carolina University men's volleyball team capped its 2026 campaign with an appearance in the AAC Conference Tournament, earning the No. 8 seed and facing top-seeded St. Thomas (Fla.) on Thursday morning. The match, held April 16 at 11 a.m. in Kingsport, Tennessee, saw the Bobcats advance with a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-10, 25-11).
Carolina battled early in the opening set, keeping pace and reaching the 20-point mark before St. Thomas pulled away late. The Bobcats used their offensive efficiency and depth to control the remainder of the match, hitting .508 as a team compared to Carolina's .100.
Leading the way for Carolina, Logan Hall recorded a team-high seven kills, while Fritz Hall added six. Keona Puchalski contributed four kills on an efficient .375 hitting percentage, and Jacob Grenier-Richie dished out 21 assists to guide the Bruins' offense. Defensively, Carolina totaled 20 digs in the contest.
Despite the result, Carolina's qualification for the AAC Tournament marked a key milestone for the program, competing against the conference's top seed on the postseason stage.
Head Coach Jake Boldog reflected on the team's effort and growth throughout the season.
"Making the conference tournament was an important step for our program," said Boldog. "Our group continued to compete and improve, and getting the opportunity to face the top team in the conference is something we can build on moving forward. I'm proud of the fight our guys showed and the progress we made this year."
With the tournament appearance, Carolina concludes its season having gained valuable postseason experience and momentum heading into the future.