University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
2-1,0-0Big South
Middle Tennessee State
2-1,0-0CUSA
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tenn. | 25 | 26 | 21 | 24 | 1 |
| UNC Asheville | 17 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 3 |
Bulldogs Defeat MTSU to Close Home Tournament
08.29.2026 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville volleyball team closed out its home tournament with a 2-1 record after the Bulldogs rallied for a 3-1 victory over Middle Tennessee State on Saturday inside the Justice Center.
The Blue Raiders took the opening set 25-17 before Asheville bounced back to win the next three frames, 28-26, 25-21 and 26-24.
The Bulldogs recorded 59 kills to MTSU's 43 and finished with a .255 attack percentage, while the Blue Raiders hit .239. Asheville also recorded 14 service aces compared to MTSU's seven.
Sarah Wadsworth and Addie Brookbank led Asheville's offensive efforts at the net with career-high kill totals, as Wadsworth finished with 19 and Brookbank added 18. Wadsworth also tied Olivia Callipo for the team lead with four service aces. Callipo recorded 18 assists, while Elise Jensen led Asheville with 29. Lydia Pate added 11 kills while hitting .500.
Defensively, Asheville finished with 16 block assists. Pate, Albertine van der Goot and Cadence Nichols led the way with four block assists apiece, while Olivia Philpot paced the Bulldogs with 11 digs.
FRAME-BY-FRAME
Knotted at 10 in the opening set, the Bulldogs went on a 3-0 run to jump ahead 13-10, fueled by a kill from Wadsworth and an ace from Jensen. The Blue Raiders responded with an 8-0 run, and Asheville was unable to make up the difference as MTSU took the opening frame 25-17.
MTSU carried its momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. Trailing 12-8, a kill from Pate sparked a 5-1 Asheville run that evened the score at 13. The teams traded points over the next several rallies before the Bulldogs created some separation with a 4-0 run sparked by a Brookbank kill.
The Blue Raiders battled back and eventually reached set point, but kills from Wadsworth and Pate helped keep Asheville alive. With the teams continuing to trade points late, the Bulldogs ultimately prevailed 28-26 behind kills and a block from Pate and van der Goot to even the match at one set apiece.
Bulldogs take the second set 28-26 in a tense set point battle👏👏#ALLinAVL pic.twitter.com/5wFtpqS6Dw
— UNC Asheville Volleyball (@uncavlvb) August 29, 2026
It was another tight battle in the third, which featured nine ties and five lead changes. MTSU held a 21-20 advantage before a Wadsworth kill sparked a 5-0 Asheville run to close out the set and give the Bulldogs a 2-1 match lead. Wadsworth capped the 25-21 victory with back-to-back service aces.
DOUBLE ACE from Wadsworth!! pic.twitter.com/9iJslKdxNs
— UNC Asheville Volleyball (@uncavlvb) August 29, 2026
The final frame continued in similar fashion, featuring nine ties and three lead changes. Neither side was able to create much separation early before Asheville built a small advantage (15-11), before the Blue Raiders bounced back by taking a 16-15 lead.
The teams traded points down the stretch, with the score tied at 22-22, 23-23 and 24-24 before the Bulldogs won the final two points to secure a 26-24 set victory and close out the match. Philpot sealed the victory with Asheville's 14th service ace of the match.
Asheville returns to the court on Tuesday, Sept. 1, as the Bulldogs host Elon inside the Justice Center at 6 p.m.
