WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Bryan College volleyball team opened the 2026 season in convincing fashion Friday afternoon, sweeping host Carolina University in straight sets to begin play at the Carolina University Classic.
The Lady Lions (1-0) earned the season-opening victory by scores of 25-18, 25-19 and 25-23 inside Williams Gymnasium. Bryan finished the match with 41 kills while hitting .245 as a team and held Carolina to a .060 hitting percentage.
Bryan's offense was led by
Shelby Kelly, who put together an impressive performance with a match-high 15 kills on 33 attempts while hitting .333. Kelly also added seven digs and two service aces to finish with 17 points.
Bella Rollins followed with nine kills and a .300 hitting percentage, while
Ella Wheatcroft was efficient in the middle with six kills and no errors on 11 attempts for a match-best .545 hitting percentage.
The Lady Lions came out strong offensively in the opening set, recording 16 kills and hitting .306. After Carolina trimmed Bryan's advantage to 16-15, the Lady Lions responded. Kelly helped fuel the closing stretch with six kills from that point forward, including the set-winning swing to give Bryan the 25-18 victory.
Bryan carried the momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 12-5 advantage. Carolina battled back to pull within one at 17-16, but the Lady Lions regained control down the stretch. A service ace from
Maddison Seabolt helped Bryan extend its lead before
Kaci Wade delivered an ace at set point and Kelly finished the frame with a kill for the 25-19 win.
The third set proved to be the closest of the afternoon. Bryan built an early 10-4 advantage and later led 21-15 before Carolina mounted a late rally to pull within one at 24-23. Rollins ended the comeback attempt with the final kill, sealing the 25-23 set and the straight-set victory.
Wade directed the Bryan offense with 31 assists while adding 12 digs and two aces for a double-double in the opener.
Jaylynn Bullock anchored the back row with a match-high 22 digs and added five assists. Seabolt contributed four kills, five digs, an ace and a solo block, while
Sydney Enslen finished with five kills.
As a team, Bryan totaled 41 kills, 38 assists, five service aces and 54 digs in the victory. The Lady Lions also limited Carolina to 30 kills with 23 attack errors on 117 attempts.
The victory gives Bryan a 1-0 start to the 2026 campaign as the Lady Lions continue play at the Carolina Classic. Tomorrow's matches will feature Blue Mountain Christian University at 9:30 am and Ave Maria University at 2:30 pm.
