University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
13-5,1-1Big South
Radford
7-9,1-1Big South
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radford | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| UNC Asheville | 25 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 1 |
Bulldogs Fall to Radford in Four Sets
10.02.2026 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team opened its weekend at home Friday evening, falling to Radford in four sets (25-20, 14-25, 20-25, 20-25) inside the Justice Center.
With the loss, Asheville moves to 13-5 overall and 1-1 in Big South Conference play.
The Bulldogs finished the night with 44 kills, seven service aces and six total blocks. Asheville was led offensively by Lily Bannister, who recorded a team-high nine kills, while Sarah Wadsworth and Cadence Nichols followed with eight kills apiece. Nichols was highly efficient on the attack, committing just one error on 10 attempts to finish with a .700 hitting percentage. Addie Brookbank added seven kills, while Lydia Pate and Albertine van der Goot each finished with six.
Pate contributed across the board with six kills on a .417 hitting percentage, two service aces and two block assists. Wadsworth added two aces and three total blocks.
Asheville's setters combined for 35 assists, with Olivia Callipo dishing out a team-high 19 and Elise Jensen adding 16. Jensen also recorded 12 digs for a double-double, while Izzy Perkins anchored the Bulldog defense with a match-high 17 digs.
SET ONE – ASHEVILLE 25, RADFORD 20
The Bulldogs came out firing in the opening frame, hitting .438 with 17 kills and just three errors. Asheville jumped in front 3-0 behind back-to-back service aces from Wadsworth and maintained control from there.
Holding a 14-11 advantage, Asheville put together a 6-0 run behind the serve of Perkins to open a 20-11 lead. Bannister contributed three kills during the stretch. Radford battled back late, trimming the advantage to four, but Nichols closed out the set with a kill to give Asheville the 25-20 victory.
SET TWO – RADFORD 25, ASHEVILLE 14
Radford responded in the second set, building an early advantage and keeping Asheville from finding the same offensive rhythm it had in the opening frame.
The Highlanders stretched their lead to 17-10 before Asheville briefly cut into the deficit, but Radford closed the set on an 8-1 run to even the match with a 25-14 victory.
SET THREE – RADFORD 25, ASHEVILLE 20
Asheville opened the third set strong, with consecutive aces from Pate helping the Bulldogs take a 4-1 advantage. Jensen added another ace shortly after to extend Asheville's lead to 6-2.
The Highlanders worked their way back and evened the score at 10 before taking their first lead of the set. Radford later used a 5-0 run to stretch a 12-11 advantage into a 17-12 lead. Asheville continued to battle and fought off three set points, pulling within 24-20, before Radford closed the frame, 25-20.
SET FOUR – RADFORD 25, ASHEVILLE 20
The fourth set featured four ties early as the two teams traded points. Radford eventually created separation with a 6-1 stretch to take a 10-6 advantage.
The Highlanders extended their lead to seven at 17-10 before Asheville mounted a late push. The Bulldogs pulled within three at 18-15 following an ace from Olivia Philpot and again made it a three-point set at 20-17. Radford answered, however, and went on to secure the match with a 25-20 fourth-set victory.
The Bulldogs return to the Justice Center on Saturday, Oct. 3, as they continue Big South action against High Point at 4 p.m.
