University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
6-12,3-2Big South
Winthrop
9-6,3-2Big South
Bulldogs Fall in Straight Sets at Winthrop
10.11.2025 | Women's Volleyball
ROCK HILL, S.C. – UNC Asheville volleyball dropped a straight-sets match (22-25, 21-25, 20-25) to Winthrop on Saturday evening (Oct. 11) inside Winthrop Coliseum. The setback moves the Bulldogs to 6-12 overall and 3-2 in Big South play.
Kylie Cackovic led Asheville with eight kills, and Albertine van der Goot followed with seven. Lydia Pate and Addie Brookbank each recorded six kills, but Pate led the team with a .462 attack percentage.
Setter Payton Rolfsen tallied 22 assists, and libero Michelle Thao anchored the defense with a team-high 15 digs. Van der Goot also contributed two solo blocks on the night.
Overall, the Bulldogs hit .182 with 38 kills and 37 digs, while Winthrop hit .262 with 44 kills and 55 digs.
The opening set saw Asheville rally from a 15-6 deficit to pull within two late, as a kill from Ana Djurovic made the score 21-19. Winthrop got to set point, but Asheville responded with three points to make it 24-22. A kill and block from van der Goot sparked Asheville's opening set push, but the Eagles held off the surge to claim the first frame, 25-22.
In set two, the Bulldogs kept things close behind the steady play of Pate, who notched several key kills to keep Asheville within striking distance. Pate recorded five of her six kills in the second frame; however, Winthrop's balanced attack—led by Avery Jolley's five kills and Rachel McCollum's 11 assists in the second frame–helped the Eagles edge out another narrow win, 25-21. Jolley went on to lead the game with 12 kills, and McCollum had 34 assists.
Asheville showed fight in the third, hitting .220 as a team, but Winthrop again capitalized late to secure the sweep.
UNC Asheville returns to action next weekend, continuing Big South play in the Justice Center for a conference matchup against High Point on Friday (Oct. 17) at 6 p.m. before hosting Radford on Saturday (Oct. 18) at 2 p.m.
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