WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Bryan College volleyball team wrapped up a productive opening weekend of the 2026 season on Saturday, splitting a pair of matches to finish the weekend with a 2-1 record.
The Lady Lions opened Saturday with a hard-fought five-set victory over Blue Mountain Christian University before closing the weekend with a four-set loss to unbeaten Ave Maria University.
Bryan 3, Blue Mountain Christian 2
Bryan battled through five sets against Blue Mountain Christian, coming away with a 22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 15-12 victory. The Lady Lions responded after dropping the opening set by winning the next two before Blue Mountain forced a deciding fifth set. Bryan then closed out the match with a 15-12 win in the fifth.
Shelby Kelly led the Bryan attack with 16 kills while adding 17 digs and three service aces.
Bella Rollins finished with 12 kills, 11 digs and a team-high five aces, while
Maddison Seabolt added eight kills.
Kaci Wade directed the offense with 45 assists while also contributing seven kills on a .467 hitting percentage and 13 digs.
Defensively,
Jaylynn Bullock led the way with 24 digs and three aces, while
Avery Baxter collected 15 digs. Bryan finished the match with 58 kills, 57 assists, 89 digs and 13 service aces.
Ave Maria 3, Bryan 1
The Lady Lions returned to the court later Saturday to face an Ave Maria squad that entered the match unbeaten. Bryan stayed within striking distance throughout the first set before falling 27-25 and then dropped the second, 25-22.
Bryan responded in the third set, using a balanced effort to take a 25-21 victory and extend the match. Ave Maria answered in the fourth, however, taking the set 25-17 to secure the 3-1 victory.
Kelly once again paced the Lady Lions offensively, finishing with 12 kills and nine digs.
Leah Lindquist added nine kills, while
Grace Bestler recorded six. Wade dished out 33 assists and added 16 digs.
Bullock led Bryan's back row with 19 digs and also provided four of the Lady Lions' 11 service aces. Bryan finished the match with 40 kills, 38 assists and 59 digs.
Despite Saturday's split, the opening weekend provided plenty of positives for a Bryan team featuring several new faces and continuing to develop its identity early in the season. The Lady Lions earned two victories over the weekend while gaining valuable experience through four matches and several tightly contested sets.
Bryan will now turn its attention to its 2026 home opener on Tuesday, August 25, when the Lady Lions welcome Oakwood University to Dayton.
