University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
3-8,0-0Big South
North Carolina Central
2-7,0-0MEAC
Dominant Offense Leads Asheville to Four Set Victory
09.16.2025 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team powered past N.C. Central on Tuesday night in the Justice Center, earning a 3-1 victory behind a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive presence. The Bulldogs won by set scores of 25–21, 21–25, 25–18, 25–21.
Baylor Herlehy led Asheville (3–8) with 13 kills on an efficient .500 hitting percentage while also contributing five block assists. Ana Djurovic added 12 kills and eight digs, while Kylie Cackovic chipped in 10 kills. Freshman Addie Brookbank gave the Bulldogs a spark off the bench with nine kills and eight digs across two sets. Albertine van der Goot was a strong presence at the net with nine kills, a .318 attack percentage, and three block assists.
Setter Selina Koc recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 16 digs, while fellow setter Payton Rolfsen tallied 19 assists and five block assists. Defensively, libero Michelle Thao anchored the back row with 20 digs, and Izzy Perkins recorded 10. At the net, Avery Loeback led the team with a solo block and five block assists as well as five kills.
Avery Loeback starts the match off with a BLOCK! 🚫 pic.twitter.com/ydLPDvvWyL
— UNC Asheville Volleyball (@uncavlvb) September 16, 2025
As a team, Asheville finished with 61 kills and hit .279, compared to N.C. Central's .131. The Bulldogs also recorded 77 digs and 11 total team blocks, holding the Eagles to under .150 hitting in three of the four sets.
The Bulldogs started strong in the opening frame, using late kills from Cackovic to secure a 25–21 win. After a close opening to the match, Asheville capitalized on an Eagle service error and a kill from Herlehy to put Asheville out in front for the remainder of the set.
Avery Loeback starts the match off with a BLOCK! 🚫 pic.twitter.com/ydLPDvvWyL
— UNC Asheville Volleyball (@uncavlvb) September 16, 2025
After dropping a tight second set that saw 11 ties and four lead changes, Asheville responded with authority in the third, hitting .350 and cruising to a 25–18 victory. The Bulldogs ended the third set with three consecutive kills, two from van der Goot and the set-winning kill from Brookbank.
The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the fourth to seal the match with a 25–21 win. Tied at 14, a kill from van der Goot put Asheville ahead, and the Bulldogs never looked back. Brookbank secured the match-winning point with her ninth kill.
BULLDOGS WIN!!
— UNC Asheville Volleyball (@uncavlvb) September 17, 2025
We defeat the Eagles in four sets behind double-digit kills from Herlehy, Djurovic and Cackovic! #ALLinAVL pic.twitter.com/4IymfIu8dS
Asheville heads to Greensboro on Saturday (Sept. 20) for the "Battle of North Carolina", where the Bulldogs will face North Carolina A&T at 1 p.m. and UNC Greensboro at 6 p.m.
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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.
