SALISBURY, N.C. -- Belmont Abbey opened the 2026 women's volleyball season Friday afternoon with a pair of wins at The 5th Set Invitational, hosted by Catawba. The Crusaders defeated Davis & Elkins 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-17) before taking down Winston Salem State by a similar 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19) score.
The victories mark the first 2-0 start by The Abbey since 2017.
BELMONT ABBEY 3, DAVIS & ELKINS 0
- Belmont Abbey outhit the Senators .256 to .121 as a team to earn the sweep.
- Tyler Case led the offensive attack by hitting 292 with 10 kills against three errors in 24 attempts. She added nine digs, one off the team high, and three service aces.
- Renata Bolado registered eight kills and had a team-best 10 digs.
- Emma Youngblood tallied 27 assists, while adding four kills and a .600 hitting percentage. She registered an ace and six digs.Â
- Libero Sheridan Young also posted nine digs
- Lola Sultenfuss and Maya Swenson each served a pair of aces.
- Freshman Taylor Marts had the team's only block.
BELMONT ABBEY 3, WINSTON SALEM STATE 0
- Bolada had a double-double of 16 kills and 20 digs, hitting .324.
- Case fell one dig of a double double with nine to go with her 11 kills. She also topped .300 in hitting at .308.
- Freshman Zoey Bradford posted a team-best 24 assists, while adding nine digs.
- Each team had four aces, with Mallory Swain, Mary Grace Hogue, Youngblood and Bradford tallying them for The Abbey.
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abbey returns to Salisbury tomorrow to complete action in The 5th Set Invitational.
- The Crusaders face host Catawba at 12 noon.
