Semifinals are set in the Ingles SoCon Volleyball Championship

No. 5 UNCG 3, No. 4 Chattanooga 1

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – No. 5 UNCG outlasted No. 4 Chattanooga, 3-1, in Friday’s first match at the Ingles SoCon Volleyball Championship. UNCG advances to face the winner of No. 1 ETSU and No. 8 Western Carolina in the semifinals, slated for Saturday at 4 p.m. inside Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville.

The opening set began as a true back-and-forth affair as the two teams would split the first 28 points. A kill from Chattanooga’s Kendyl MacAskill broke the tie, leading to a media timeout. Following the break, UNCG tied the score at 15-15 before a pair of kills by Sydney Jackwin put the Mocs ahead 17-15, forcing a timeout by the Spartans.

UNCG clawed its way back and eventually took a 23-21 advantage after a run of four straight points, leading to a timeout by Chattanooga. The Spartans continued their run after the timeout, getting points off a kill by Robin Rosser and a block from Rosser and all-freshman team selection Connore’ Siler-Nixon to win the set 25-21.

In the second set, Chattanooga got out to an early 4-1 lead, punctuated by an ace from Ashley Reynolds. The Spartans responded with six straight points, prompting a timeout by the Mocs. Chattanooga would go on a run and eventually tie the score at 9-9 following a kill by Kynli Kirkendoll, but another 6-0 run by UNCG forced a timeout from the fourth seed.

UNCG would get to set point after a kill from McKenna Timmerman. The Mocs did not go quietly, scoring five straight points to make the score 24-21 in favor of the Spartans. UNCG would win the frame on the next point off an error by Chattanooga, making the score 2-0 in the match.

Chattanooga grabbed an early lead for the second set in a row, going ahead 11-8 after an attack error from UNCG. The Mocs continued to keep the Spartans at bay, eventually going ahead 20-17 after a kill from Jackwin.

The Spartans scored four of the next five points, punctuated by a kill from first-team all-conference selection Allie Sweet. The two teams split the next four points before a kill by Siler-Nixon put UNCG one point away from victory, leading to a timeout by Chattanooga.

The Mocs’ Gracie Rose got a kill on the next point after an unsuccessful challenge by the Spartans, tying the score at 24-24. UNCG got a kill from Sweet to get back to match point, but two straight points from Chattanooga led to a timeout by the Spartans with the score 26-25 in favor of the Mocs. After UNCG tied the score at 26-26, Chattanooga scored the last two points off an error and a kill from Jackwin, sending the match into the fourth set.

In the fourth frame, UNCG got out to an early 11-5 lead following an ace by Graylinn Serge. Chattanooga worked its way back into the set, eventually making the score 15-13 and forcing a timeout by the Spartans. UNCG fought off the rally, moving ahead 22-18 after a kill by Sweet, prompting a timeout from the Mocs.

A kill from Rosser got the Spartans to match point at 24-22. UNCG would get a block from Rosser and Siler-Nixon on the next point, ending the frame at 25-22.

The match featured 26 ties and 13 lead changes. Fourteen of those ties occurred in the opening set of the match.

Sweet had a match-high 25 kills and nine digs. UNCG’s Gabby Seeds recorded a double-double, finishing with a match-best 48 assists and 15 digs. Jackwin’s 16 kills led the way for the Mocs.

No. 1 ETSU 3, No. 8 Western Carolina 0

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – No. 1 ETSU defeated No. 8 Western Carolina in straight sets in Friday’s second quarterfinal match at the Ingles SoCon Volleyball Championship. The Buccaneers will now face fifth-seeded UNCG in the semifinal round scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. inside Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville.

The eighth-seeded Catamounts began the match with a fury. Western Carolina got out to an 11-5 advantage early in the set and kept its lead into the media timeout after a kill by Rayna Taylor Freshman of the Year Tatum Sharp made the score 15-10. ETSU slowly crept back into the set, eventually tying the set at 19-19 following three straight kills from the SoCon Player of the Year Makayla Bays.

Following a timeout by Western Carolina, ETSU seized control by scoring six of the next nine points. The set would end 25-22 on an error by the Catamounts, giving the Bucs a 1-0 lead in the match.

For the second consecutive frame, Western Carolina got off to a quick start which was once again answered by a run from ETSU. The Catamounts scored the set’s first four points, but the Bucs came back to eventually take a 15-14 lead before the media timeout.

The top seed continued its strong play after play resumed, building the lead to 19-16 following a kill by Chloe Smith. The lead would get up to 21-16 following kills from Isabelle Iosua and Smith, forcing a Western Carolina timeout.

ETSU would get to set point after an error by Western Carolina made the score 24-17. A service error and attack error by the Bucs kept the frame alive, before an attack error from the Catamounts ended the set at 25-19.

In the third set, the two teams split the opening 24 points before ETSU scored three straight, forcing a timeout by Western Carolina. The Buccaneers would lengthen their lead to as many as five before the Catamounts got back in the frame, tying the score at 20-20 to force a timeout by ETSU.

The next four points were split between the two squads before a kill by Bays and a block from Iosua and Gianna Blair made it match point. Following a timeout by the Catamounts, Bays got another kill to end the match.

Bays recorded a double-double, logging a match-high 20 kills and 11 digs. ETSU’s Melanie Morris finished with a match-high 25 digs. Sharp had a team-high 11 kills for Western Carolina.

No. 2 Furman 3, No. 7 Mercer 1

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – No. 2 Furman got a hard-fought win in four sets against No. 7 Mercer in the third quarterfinal match of the Ingles SoCon Volleyball Championship. Furman will face the winner of No. 3 Wofford and No. 6 Samford in the second semifinal on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville.

The match began as a back-and-forth affair as the teams split the opening 16 points. Mercer went on a run after that and led 15-11 after a kill from Lara Matta, leading to the media timeout. Furman scored five straight points after the break, prompting a timeout by Mercer.

Furman kept the pressure on, eventually extending its lead to 22-19 after a kill by Grainne McGrath. Mercer got kills from Matta and Sophia Henry on the next two points, forcing a timeout call by Furman. The Paladins scored three of the next four points to end the set, punctuated by a solo block from Lauren Hayes.

In the second set, Mercer led 15-11 at the media timeout again. The Bears maintained their lead and after an ace by Aubri Martin made the score 20-17, Furman took a timeout.

An attack error from the Paladins put the Bears ahead 23-19 in the waning moments of the frame. Furman took a timeout at that point, but Mercer held on to win the set, 25-20, tying the match at 1-1.

The Paladins were dominant in the third set. Back-to-back kills from Ashley Stein made the score 11-2 early in the frame. Mercer responded to close the gap, but the Paladins’ lead would get to as many as 13 on two different occasions. The final occurrence was via a block from Izzy Castelloe and first-team all-conference selection Tennyson Gorman, ending the set at 25-12.

The fourth set was a seesaw battle. The two squads split the first 30 points of the frame before Furman was able to create some separation. The Paladins got their lead to 21-17 after a kill by McGrath, leading to a timeout from the Bears.

The Paladins got to match point after a block by Lindsay Walch and McGrath made the score 24-19. The Bears got the next three points before an attack error ended the set 25-22 in favor of Furman, giving the Paladins a four-set win.

Stein and McGrath led a balanced offensive attack for the Paladins with nine kills apiece. Eva Wheeler had 20 assists for Furman. Henry logged a match-high 15 kills for Mercer.

No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 6 Samford 0

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – No. 3 Wofford won via sweep over No. 6 Samford in the final quarterfinal match of the Ingles SoCon Volleyball Championship. The Terriers will face No. 2 Furman in the second semifinal on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville.

Samford scored the first four points of the contest, prompting an early timeout by Wofford. The Terriers quickly tied the frame at 4-4, beginning a seesaw affair in the opening set.

The score would go back-and-forth as the two teams were tied 22-22 late in the frame. Wofford would go on to score the final three points, going ahead 1-0 in the match.

In the second set, the score stayed within one point until two straight blocks by Wofford made the score 17-15, leading to a Samford timeout. The Terriers went on a 4-1 run after the break, which was punctuated by back-to-back kills from second-team all-conference selection Annemarie Rakoski, prompting another timeout by the Bulldogs.

Wofford would get to set point following a service error by Samford. On the next point, first-team all-conference selection Bradley Brown got a kill, ending the frame at 25-18.

The Terriers got out to a strong start in the third set, moving ahead 10-5 before a Samford timeout. The Bulldogs worked their way back into frame, closing the gap to 20-18 following an ace by Shea Bruntmyer. After a timeout by Wofford, the Terriers scored two straight points and would eventually get a solo block from Brown to end the frame 25-20.

Rakoski had match highs in kills (13) and blocks (7). Wofford’s Taylor Pecht had 22 assists to lead all players. First-team all-conference selection Kaleigh Meritt finished with 12 kills to lead Samford.

2025 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship
Asheville, North Carolina (Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville)

Thursday, Nov. 20
First Round
Match 1: No. 8 Western Carolina 3, No. 9 The Citadel 0

Friday, Nov. 21
Quarterfinals
Match 2: No. 5 UNCG 3, No. 4 Chattanooga 1
Match 3: No. 1 ETSU 3, No. 8 Western Carolina 0
Match 4: No. 2 Furman 3, No. 7 Mercer 1
Match 5: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 6 Samford 0

Saturday, Nov. 22
Semifinals
Match 6: No. 5 UNCG vs. No. 1 ETSU, 4 p.m.
Match 7: No. 2 Furman vs. No. 3 Wofford, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 23
Championship
Match 8: Match 6 winner vs. Match 7 winner, 4 p.m.