University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
12-18,7-7Big South
High Point
18-9,12-2Big South
Asheville Falls in Big South Championship Match
11.23.2025 | Women's Volleyball
HIGH POINT, N.C. – UNC Asheville's 2025 season came to a close on Sunday afternoon, as the Bulldogs fell to High Point, 3–0 (12–25, 13–25, 23–25), in the Big South Championship match at the Millis Athletic and Convocation Center.
High Point opened the match with a strong offensive performance, hitting .583 in the first set and .424 in the second, while Asheville worked to find rhythm. The Bulldogs generated momentum late, pushing the Panthers deep into the third set, but HPU closed out the frame to secure the title.
Albertine van der Goot led Asheville with six kills while Baylor Herlehy and Ana Djurovic followed with five apiece. Payton Rolfsen paced the offense with 18 assists, and Michelle Thao anchored the back row with a team-high 12 digs. Lydia Pate contributed a spark off the bench with three kills and three blocks.
Asheville finished with 27 kills, 33 digs, and five team blocks, highlighted by a resilient third-set push that included 12 kills and a .256 hitting percentage—the Bulldogs' strongest frame of the match.
Payton Rolfsen and Michelle Thao represented Asheville on the Big South All-Tournament team.
Despite the championship loss, UNC Asheville closes a resurgent postseason that included back-to-back wins to reach its first Big South title match since 2006.
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About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank
First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.4 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 118 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
