COLUMBUS, Miss. – For the third-consecutive match, The W volleyball took its opponent to a fifth set and, unfortunately for the host MUW team, came out on the short end of a 3-2 score in all three bouts. This time, the Owls (5-15) dropped a non-conference decision to Huntingdon College (14-11), by set scores of 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 16-25, 15-12, at Pohl Gym.
The W has been snakebit in five-set matches in 2025, going 0-6. It is also the second-straight meeting versus the Hawks that MUW has lost in a fifth set, as well.
The evening started out on he right foot for the Owls. MUW opened set one on a 7-0 spree and never trailed. However, HC would take the next two sets. With its back to the wall, The W rallied for a dominating nine-point win in the fourth set to knot the match at two sets, apiece, before the Hawks came out on top of the tight fifth frame.
Sophomore
Megan Neeb, a New Hope High School alumnae, led all players with 16 kills, to go along with a .188 attack average. Neeb added nine digs and a pair of aces to her stat line. She was also sterling in the back row, amassing a match-high 31 receptions, with just one error, and a .969 receiving percentage.
Junior transfer
Skye Letson was close behind Neeb with 15 kills of her own and hit an impressive .297 attack average. Teammate
Madyson McBrayer (also a former New Hope H.S. player) was MUW's third player with double-digit kills, at 10, and chipped in three aces to top all players in that category.
Avery Watts had a match-best .500 attack average, with seven kills in 14 swings and zero errors.
Junior setter
Kinsley Kennedy had a double-double of 49 assists and 17 digs, along with two aces. Libero
Brooklyn Comfort had 15 digs. Comfort and defensive specialist
Bailee Schmitt were both perfect in receptions in 22 and 19 chances, respectively.
The Owls amassed eight total blocks, led by Watt's four (two solo; two assisted). Freshman
Sydney Barrett had two solo blocks on her ledger, to go along with eight kills.
The W will next be in action on Saturday (Oct. 18/10 a.m.) for a SLIAC contest at Eureka College.
