Charleston Southern University Athletics
11-14,3-9Big South
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UNC Asheville
17-11,5-7Big South
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNC Asheville | 25 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 15 | 3 |
| Charleston So. | 19 | 11 | 25 | 25 | 9 | 2 |
11/6/2026 8:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CHARLESTON – Charleston Southern volleyball rallied from a two-set deficit to force a deciding fifth set Friday night, but UNC Asheville held on for a 3-2 (25-19, 25-11, 21-25, 23-25, 15-9) Big South Conference victory inside Buccaneer Fieldhouse.
The Buccaneers found their rhythm in the third set and carried that momentum into the fourth, winning back-to-back frames to extend the match. UNC Asheville ultimately answered in the fifth to claim the conference victory.
Charleston Southern came out with a renewed energy in the third, trading points with the Bulldogs early before beginning to build momentum. After falling behind 5-4, the Buccaneers pulled even at 5-5 on a service error and continued to find their footing offensively. Brynn Minter delivered a kill off a Cara McLean assist to make it 6-7, and Minter followed with a service ace to even the set at 7-7. The Buccaneers then took the lead, as Surima Akat and Kylee Roberts teamed up for a block that forced an Asheville attack error and put CSU ahead 8-7.
The teams continued to exchange points, with Akat answering an Asheville point with a kill to make it 9-9 before Dillia Lowry put away another McLean assist to tie the set at 10-10. Lowry struck again to bring the Buccaneers within one at 11-10, and CSU kept pace as the teams traded points through a 13-13 tie. Charleston Southern then took control with a pivotal four-point stretch. Naya Martinez served through the run, which included consecutive Asheville attack errors before Minter's block helped push the Buccaneers ahead 16-13.
After Asheville worked its way back into the set, Laila Hilton delivered a kill off a Presley Morris assist to give CSU a 17-15 advantage. The Bulldogs eventually tied the score at 18-18, but Charleston Southern responded with another decisive push. Kylee Roberts and Minter combined for a block to make it 19-19, before Minter's service ace gave CSU the lead. Minter followed with a kill off a McLean assist, and Grace Smith and Roberts teamed up for another block to stretch the advantage to 22-19. Akat added a kill to make it 23-20, and Lowry finished the set with consecutive kills, including the final point off a Tristin Sutton assist, as the Buccaneers secured a 25-21 win.
The Buccaneers carried their momentum into the fourth set, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to take a 4-2 lead. Faith Burch started the run with a kill off a Morris assist, while consecutive Asheville attack errors brought CSU even. Lowry and Minter then delivered back-to-back kills to push Charleston Southern in front 6-3. After Asheville pulled even at 7-7, Grace Smith put away a McLean assist to keep the Buccaneers within reach. Akat followed with a kill to make it 9-10, and Roberts' service ace tied the set at 10-10.
Charleston Southern continued to apply pressure at the net. Lowry recorded a block to put CSU ahead 12-11, and after Asheville briefly regained the lead, the Buccaneers stayed within striking distance. Minter and Burch provided consecutive kills to pull CSU within two at 14-16, and Martinez followed with a service ace to help bring the set even at 16-16. Burch then delivered another important point, finishing a Morris assist to give Charleston Southern a 17-17 tie. Minter added a kill off a McLean assist to even the score again at 18-18.
With the set tightening late, CSU found another gear. Ola Matusiak entered and helped spark the closing stretch, as an Asheville attack error gave the Buccaneers a 19-18 advantage. After the Bulldogs tied the score, Smith recorded back-to-back blocks to put Charleston Southern in front 21-20 and then 22-20. Roberts followed with a kill off a Matusiak assist to make it 23-21. Asheville answered to tie the set at 23-23, but Akat delivered a kill off another Matusiak assist to put CSU at set point. Sutton then connected with Burch for the decisive kill, sealing a 25-23 victory and sending the match to a fifth set.
In the deciding set, Charleston Southern looked to complete the comeback, but Asheville built an early advantage and maintained control. The Buccaneers received a block from Lowry to get on the board and later found points through Minter, Sutton and Kylee Roberts. McLean helped set up a pair of kills for Minter and Akat as CSU worked to stay within reach, while Roberts added another kill to make it 6-8. Akat continued to provide an offensive spark with a kill that brought the Buccaneers within one at 7-9, but the Bulldogs created separation down the stretch and closed out the 15-9 decision.
Notables:
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Minter led the Buccaneers with 11 kills and added 24 digs and two service aces for a strong all-around performance.
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Akat finished with 10 kills.
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Sutton paced the offense with 19 assists.
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Charleston Southern finished with 45 kills and 90 digs, while recording 10 total team blocks.
Up Next:
The Bucs will be back tomorrow, November 7th, against USC Upstate. The match will take place at 6:00 PM at Buccaneer Fieldhouse and will not be broadcast on ESPN+.
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