DAYTON, Ohio - Eastern Illinois stuns Santa Clara, earning the reverse sweep in five sets to move past the Broncos for the season opening victory.  

EIU opened the match sluggishly, falling behind early 15-7 at the media timeout. Set one was controlled by the Broncos as they pushed their lead out to 19-7. Out of timeouts, the Panthers were unable to stop the bleeding, losing 25-13 in the first set.  

Set two was a similar tone as Santa Clara jumped out of the gate strong, holding a 10-4 lead, forcing an EIU timeout. Following a mini 4-0 scoring run by the Panthers, the Broncos held Eastern Illinois at arm's length to secure a commanding two-set lead.  

Trailing 2-0, the Panthers found life, winning the final three sets to secure their first victory of the season. A 7-0 scoring run to begin the third set was all that was needed as EIU held Santa Clara in check, winning 25-18. The Panthers flipped the switch offensively, hitting .294, while totaling 15 kills and three service aces.  

EIU continued to lean on their offensive momentum, hitting .344 and .389 in the final two sets, while recording 23 kills.  

Both teams battled back-and-forth throughout the fourth set, which featured eight ties and five lead changes. The Panthers tallied 14 kills and three additional service aces to pull ahead and even the match. Defensively, the Panthers recorded four of their seven total blocks in the set. A late 5-0 scoring run, led by Katie Kopshever, proved to be the difference as the Panthers secured the fourth set, 25-22.  

Eastern Illinois cruised through the fifth set, using a 5-0 scoring run to build a commanding 11-5 lead. Santa Clara committed five attack errors and one service error, helping EIU maintain control and complete the reverse-sweep comeback.
 

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MISSOURI 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Western Illinois volleyball team was unable to come out on top against the Missouri Tigers, losing the match 3 sets to 0.The Leathernecks grabbed the opening point of all 3 sets, but were unable to take that momentum into the rest of the sets against a very strong Missouri squad.

Western Illinois went down 8-3 in set 1, but was able to get the score back to 6-8, before the Tigers went on a 9-0 run, ballooning the score out to 17-6. The teams then traded a few points back and forth, before Missouri went on a 6-0 run, which led to the final for the set being 25-9.

In set 2, the Leathernecks were able to stop any very long runs, but Missouri was able to go on 5 separate runs of 3 or more points, capping off the set with a 7-0 run, culminating in a second set final score of 25-11. 

The Leathernecks were able to go out to a 2 point lead in the beginning of the third set, which ended up being their largest of the day. The Leathernecks were also able to go on a 3-0 run in the third set, which was also the longest of the day for Western. The third set ended with a score of 25-14.

Melaina Hawblitzel led the Leathernecks with 6 kills in the game, with Kennedy Adair and Georgia Haynes both having 4 kills as well. Jaleah Bauss had 14 assists for the Leathernecks, and Grace Ulatowski led the team with 10 digs.

The Tigers were led in kills by Ceylin Kuyan and Paige Fielder, who had 14 and 13 respectively. Missouri ended the game with a .507 hitting percentage, which was one of the leading factors in the Tigers success. Nina Mandovic had 26 assists for the Tigers, and Ainoah Cruz led the team with 19 digs.
 

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WESTERN KENTUCKY 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri fell to Western Kentucky in straight sets, 25-23, 25-13, 25-20, on Friday at Houck Field House. 

The first set began with the Redhawks (0-1) taking an early lead, opening with a kill by Jacey Young, assisted by Lucy Arndt, for the first point. The scoring remained close as both teams exchanged service errors. Arndt and Reagan Nelson both contributed multiple kills, helping the home team maintain a slight edge. The Hilltoppers (1-0), however, capitalized on a series of attack errors and a service ace from Kate Rush to level the score at 17-17. Kaira Knox's consistent performance, including four kills in the latter part of the set, was pivotal for the Hilltoppers as they edged out a narrow 25-23 victory in the opening set.

The Hilltoppers built a commanding lead in the second set with a series of impactful plays. The set started with a service error by Nelson, giving the Hilltoppers an early advantage. Knox and Faith Young contributed with key kills, extending the Hilltoppers' lead. Rush's service ace and consistent setting played a pivotal role, as did several service errors from SEMO., allowing the Hilltoppers to maintain momentum. The Hilltoppers closed the set decisively, with Eliza McKnight's kill from Rush securing the final point at 25-13.

Western Kentucky started the third set strong with a 4-0 lead, benefiting from two service aces by Rush. SEMO responded with a kill by Nelson, but Western Kentucky maintained its momentum, extending the lead to 6-2. The Redhawks attempted to close the gap, with Marin Johnson and Alaina Lester contributing key kills. However, their efforts were met with resistance, as Rush and Young led a series of attacks that pushed Western Kentucky to a 22-18 advantage. Despite a late service error by Western Kentucky, the visitors clinched the set 25-20, with Nelson's attack error ending the match.
 

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AUSTIN PEAY 3, UT MARTIN 0
KANSAS CITY 3, UT MARTIN 2
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The 2026 season officially opened for the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad today as the Skyhawks put up a fight but fell 3-0 to Stacheville Challenge host Austin Peay (6-25, 24-26, 17-25) before being outlasted by Kansas City (25-16, 19-25, 26-28, 26-24, 11-15) in a five-set thriller.

Luli Arcucci topped UT Martin in kills today with 23 (2.88 per set), followed closely behind by Chyler Martin's 22 rally killers. Sophie Diouf (17 kills on a team-best .317 hitting percentage) also paced the Skyhawks offensively while Ida Wiszomirska (52 assists, 8.67 per set) and Reagan Hamm (24 assists, 8.0 per set) split duties at setter.

Defensively, Dylan Sulcer led the way with 34 digs (4.25 per set) while Arcucci (22 digs) and Carly Mueller (team-best five blocks in five sets) also lifted UT Martin.

The Skyhawks wrap up the Stacheville Challenge tomorrow with a matchup against Jackson State. First serve is set for 10:30 a.m.

Versus Austin Peay, Arcucci collected team-highs of eight kills and 12 digs in her UT Martin debut but the Skyhawks fell in the season opener.

The first point of the young 2026 campaign came via a kill from Mia Saenz before the Governors used an extended run to take the opening stanza. Riley Rushing produced team-highs of two kills and three digs in the first set for UT Martin.

The second set featured 12 tie scores and five lead changes. The Skyhawks flipped a 9-6 deficit into a 19-16 advantage before earning set point at 24-23 following back-to-back kills from Arcucci and Rushing. However, Austin Peay was able to take a 2-0 lead after scoring three unanswered points in the middle stanza. Arcucci (team-highs of six kills on a .545 attack percentage and eight digs) and Martin (six kills) paced UT Martin in the second set.

A Mueller kill and Penny Kirkham service ace helped the Skyhawks shave a five-point deficit into a one-point match (13-12) in the third set. Back-to-back kills from Mari Haas and Diouf kept UT Martin within striking distance (17-15) late but the Governors ended the match on an 8-2 run. Hamm dished out nine assists for the Skyhawks in the final set alone.

Against Kansas City, a balanced offensive attack was headlined by Arcucci (15 kills, 10 digs) and Martin (15 kills, team-best .379 attack percentage) but UT Martin was narrowly defeated in a match that had 43 ties and 14 lead changes.

The Skyhawks controlled most of the opening set before the Demons evened the score at 14-all. UT Martin then reeled off a 10-0 run which was highlighted by a pair of Abby Freund service aces. Moments later, Saenz delivered the set-clinching kill to give the Skyhawks the 1-0 lead in the match. Martin and Arcucci each provided four kills apiece while Wiszomirska managed 11 assists in the first stanza.

Three consecutive points from Diouf (kill, two service aces) helped UT Martin pull out of an early hole and take a 12-11 advantage in the second set. Four more ties followed before Kansas City evened up the match with five of the final six points in the set. Sulcer was responsible for eight of the Skyhawks' 13 digs in the second set.

Back-to-back service aces from Mari Haas nudged UT Martin's lead out to 9-5 to start the third stanza. The Kangaroos eventually came back to take a 23-20 advantage before the Skyhawks charged back to claim set point (24-23). However, Kansas City ended the set on a 5-2 run to take a 2-1 lead in the match in the process. Diouf and Arcucci both slammed down four kills while Haas landed a remarkable three aces in the third set alone.

Neither side led by more than two points in the fourth set until a 4-0 UT Martin run resulted in a 17-13 Skyhawk advantage. After the Kangaroos tied the score at 24-all, UT Martin forced a decisive fifth set thanks to a Kansas City service error and Arcucci set-clinching kill. Diouf was a key factor in the Skyhawks' fourth-set success, notching five kills against no errors in just nine swings while Wiszomirska distributed 15 of UT Martin's 16 assists in the stanza.

The fifth set was a back-and-forth affair throughout. Diouf accounted for consecutive Skyhawk points with a solo block and kill as UT Martin led by a 6-5 margin. Martin then caught fire for three straight kills as the score crept to a 10-10 tie. However, the Kangaroos secured five of the last six points to close out the match. Wiszomirska (five assists, team-high four digs) led the Skyhawks in the final set.
 

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SOUTHERN INDIANA 3, MURRAY STATE 1
EASTERN MICHIGAN 3, SOUTHERN INDIANA 1
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana split the first two games of the USI Invitational on Friday, taking a win over Murray State University and dropping the match against Eastern Michigan University.
 
USI came out strong in the first match of the 2026 season, taking a four-set win over MSU to start the day, but fell to EMU in a tough four-set match to end Friday's play.
 
The Screaming Eagles came out strong through the first 15 points, maintaining a .429 hitting percentage, with five players with at least two kills. Senior outside Ashby Willis led the court with six kills. Sophomore Aysa Thomas ran a balanced offense, dishing out 14 assists.
 
Sophomore Carley Wright added four kills, bringing her total to eight after two sets. The Racers tallied three aces and added 16 digs, keeping the USI offense to a .086 hitting percentage.
 
USI bounced back to dominate the third set, adding 18 team digs and five aces to keep the Racers at a .029 hitting percentage. Freshman Aubrey Fair took the court to tally her first three kills of her college career. Wright and Willis added four kills each, leading the team with 12 kills each.
 
The Screaming Eagles continued to dominate from the service line, adding four more aces as a team, led by Willis with two. Wright continued to lead the offense, adding six more kills, while Fair continued her dynamic debut performance, adding four kills.  
 
Sophomore Grace Bach hit the court for the first time in her college career, tallying four kills and two blocks. Willis led USI with 18 kills and seven digs, Wright was close behind her with 14 kills and seven digs. Leading the back row was junior libero Audrey Small with 18 digs, along with seven assists and two aces.
 
Reigning OVC Freshman of the Year, Thomas, dished out 43 total aces, with eight digs and four kills. Thomas helped the USI offense maintain a .263 hitting percentage through the end of the match.

The Screaming Eagles dropped a close opening set against EMU. Willis tied her single-set high with six kills. Wright added a balanced effort, leading the team with five digs and three kills. Fifth-year transfer Aspen Jankowski took the court for her first time as a Screaming Eagle to add an ace.
 
USI kept it close in the second frame, tallying 23 team digs and 16 kills to turn the team hitting percentage up to .120, tripling the set one number. Wright added seven kills to the board, reaching double-digit kills along with Willis to lead the court.
 
The Screaming Eagles avoided a sweep by increasing the offensive efficiency at the net, with a hitting percentage of more than double their first two sets (.265). Fair added five kills from the outside to match her previous game-high of seven. Jankowski came off the bench to add another ace to the board.
 
USI kept it close in the fourth set, going point for point throughout before allowing EMU to inch a lead in the final four points. Willis led the team, adding six more kills to her total and two more digs to earn a double-double for the match. Wright landed four kills and three digs to earn herself the first double-double of her career.
 
For the second match of the day, four Screaming Eagles recorded double-doubles along with Willis and Wright. Thomas dished out 36 assists and 22 digs to lead the team. Small earned her first double-double as a Screaming Eagle with 19 digs and 11 assists.
 
Jankowski came off the bench against EMU to land three aces in her first match at USI. Bach and Fair added to the newcomers' performance, adding three and nine kills, respectively.
 

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CHATTANOOGA 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0
CHANNATTOGA, Tenn. - Tennessee State volleyball opened the 2026 season with a quick road trip for day one of the Chattanooga Classic on Friday afternoon. The Tigers opened the tournament against host Chattanooga, falling 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 28-26).

After dropping the first point, TSU went on an early run to take the lead. The teams traded momentum before Chattanooga pulled away to take the opening set, 25-12. The Tigers finished the frame with seven kills.

Tennessee State's offense improved in the second set, recording 11 kills while hitting .194. TSU remained within striking distance early before Chattanooga created separation and took the set, 25-14.

The Tigers responded with their strongest set of the afternoon, battling through 10 ties and three lead changes. TSU stayed in front during the early portion of the frame before Chattanooga moved ahead. A block from Triniti Jackson and Gabrielle Washington helped spark the Tigers, and an ace from Jackson tied the set at 14. Neither side was able to create much separation down the stretch as TSU pushed the set beyond 25 points before Chattanooga closed it out, 28-26.

Wiktoria Jakubik led Tennessee State offensively in her Tiger debut, finishing with 10 kills on 17 attacks with just one error for a .529 hitting percentage. She also added an ace and a block assist. Melae Lacy followed with eight kills and two block assists, while Sydney Robinson added seven kills and six digs.

Jackson directed the TSU offense with 22 assists while adding seven digs, one ace and a block assist. Sydni Poston recorded a team-high three service aces to go with seven digs, while Jordan Imperial led the Tigers defensively with 15 digs.
 

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MOREHEAD STATE 3, FAIRFIELD 2
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Morehead State volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a five-set win (25-22, 20-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-13) over Fairfield Friday in the Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn.
 
Senior Hollan Everett led a trio of Eagles with double-digit kills with 20 a .241 hitting percentage. Everett added three blocks, including a block solo
 
Senior middle Amelia Nott tied her career high with 14 kills, posting a .306 attack efficiency. She added three blocks and three service aces.
 
Freshman Ella Warrick posted a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs in her debut as an Eagle. She added a match-high four aces.
 
After splitting first two sets, Morehead State got off to an early 3-0 lead in the final frame. Fairfield responded with a four-point run to even the score 8-8.  The teams traded points, with the Stags inching ahead 12-10, then 13-11. Nott got a side-out for the Eagles, then tied up the score with her second ace of the match. After a Fairfield attack error, Everett clinched the match with her 20th termination of the match.
 
Morehead State (1-1) got off to a fast start in the match, taking a 6-2 lead in the opening set and never trailed. Everett led the early attack with two kills. Later, Fairfield (0-1) ran off four straight points to tie the score at 12-12. The Eagles responded with a pair of three-point runs to take a 21-16 lead. Fairfield held off three set points before Everett clinched the frame with her seventh kill of the set. Morehead State hit .275 in the frame, while Fairfield posted a .200 efficiency.
 
Set two was a tight affair with seven ties and four lead changes. Fairfield got some separation with a four-point run to take an 11-7 lead. Another four-point run pushed the Stags out to an 18-11 lead on the way to closing out the frame 25-20. The Eagle attack cooled, posting an.094 hitting percentage to Fairfield's .276 attack efficiency.
 
The Eagles got back on track in the third frame with a balanced attack the saw MSU post a .486 hitting percentage. Everett, Warrick, Nott and freshman Anna Shiltz each posted four kills in the stanza.
 
Fairfield forced the tiebreaker after gaining control with a three-point run to make the score 19-15. The Stags held the Eagles to a .062 attack efficiency. Everett led the Eagle attack with six kills in the frame
 

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LINDENWOOD 3, UIC 0
ST. LOUIS - The Lindenwood women's volleyball team (1-0) opened the 2026 campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win over Illinois Chicago (0-2) on Friday afternoon. The Lions have now won four of five season openers in the Division-I era.

Lindenwood took the opening set behind four kills from Susanna Beretti and three service aces from Mandy Lawson. The Lions led by as many as eight points in the frame before fending off the Flames for a 25-23 win.

After falling behind 8-7 in set two, Lindenwood used a 6-0 run to take a 13-8 win and would retain at least a two point advantage for the remainder of the frame on their way to a 25-19 victory.

The Lions cruised to a 25-16 win in the third set to complete the sweep, putting an exclamation point on the afternoon with a 5-1 run to close out the frame.

Autumn Bax led Lindenwood in scoring with 12 points in the match, registering 10 kills and three blocks. Lauren Ortwerth also posted 10 kills on a blistering .500 hitting percentage.

Kaci Johnson handed out 27 assists in her Lindenwood debut as the Lions hit .221 as a team. She also recorded 11 digs for a double-double while matching Mandy Lawson with three service aces.

Defensively, Dana Grib recorded a team-high 13 digs, while Ashley Geluck posted three blocks to match Bax for the team-high.
 

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ARKANSAS 3, SIUE 0
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - SIUE Volleyball officially opened the 2026 season Friday at the Arkansas Razorback Invitational, taking on the host squad in what would be both teams' first match of the weekend. SIUE battled throughout the contest before falling to Arkansas in three sets.  
 
Sophie Robinson led the way for the Cougar offense, recording a team-high 10 kills on 21 attacks. Defensively, Anika Ivester provided a strong presence at the net, finishing with a game-high three blocks.
 
The Cougars also kept pace with the Razorbacks in several key statistics, matching Arkansas with four service aces and owning four blocks to their three.