COLUMBUS, Miss. – Two weeks into the 2024 season, it has already been an historic year for The W Volleyball and Saturday's home win over regional rival Belhaven University only added to the growing list of accomplishments. The Owls (2-1) defeated the Blazers (1-3), 3-1, for their first-ever victory over BU since reinstating athletics in 2017.
 
MUW notched win No. 1 – in 14 total meetings - over their neighbors from Jackson by set scores of 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23 at Pohl Gym.
 
"Beating Belhaven today was a huge win for us, as a program," MUW Head Coach Breylee Linder said. "It wasn't a pretty match on our side, but the team found a way to still come out successful. It was also our first (NCAA) Division III match-up of the season, and I believe that we can come out of it confident for the rest of the season."
 
Junior transfer MC Brown led the Owls in kills for the third time in as many matches of her first year on the squad. Brown had a match-leading 14 kills and a .205 attack average. She also had four blocks to her credit.
 
Freshman teammate Megan Neeb, a New Hope High School product, chipped in 10 kills and matched Brown's four blocks (two solo). Fellow frosh Avery Watts led all players with six blocks, to go along with four kills and five digs.
 
Freshman setter Madison Wood had a double-double of 20 assists and 19 digs. Senior setter Hannah Duran added nine assists, three aces, and nine digs. Sophomore libero Bailee Schmitt made 11 digs, as well as producing a .968 receiving percentage (one error in 31 receptions).
 
"We continue to have great crowds that have added so much to our atmosphere," Linder reflected. "And the players feed off that. We love playing at home."
 
The W plays a home-and-home series versus another regional foe – Huntingdon College – over the next 10 days. MUW travels to Montgomery, Alabama on Tuesday (Sept. 10/7 p.m.), before the two teams square off in Columbus on Sept. 14 (7 p.m.).