Box Score COLUMBUS, Mss. -  The W volleyball may be peaking at just the right time, as the squad notched a pair of wins in a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) tri-match at Pohl Gym. The Owls improved to 10-16, overall, and evened their SLIAC ledger at 7-7, thanks to victories over Spalding University, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-14), and Webster University, 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-16).
 
The W has now won three-straight matches and five of its last six outings, all in the SLIAC.
 
In addition to clinching the program's first-ever berth in the SLIAC post-season tournament, MUW catapulted itself up the league leaderboard into fourth place. The top six teams make the SLIAC playoffs and The W has completed its league regular-season slate.
 
Junior outside hitter Madyson McBrayer, a three-year player for the Owls and a product of New Hope High School, has seen her team's improvement in 2025.
 
"We have worked so hard all season to prove ourselves to everyone," McBrayer said. "And I think we showed that today. We played very confident and together. I am so proud of the way we played."
 
McBrayer had another of her patented all-around good efforts for the day, collecting a match-leading eight kills in the sweep of Spalding and nine more versus Webster. She hit a nifty .295 attack average for the day. She also did a creditable job in the back row, with a .920 receiving average (2 errors in 25 attempts).
 
Another former New Hope H.S. product, Megan Neeb, also showed her skills in all areas. Neeb knocked down 17 total kills (10 versus Webster), served up four aces, had a pair of solo blocks, 15 digs in the back row, and was perfect in 18 total serve receptions.
 
Junior transfer Skye Letson, as she has most of the season, led the Owls' attack with 23 total kills, including a match-high 15 versus Webster. Letson had a .267 attack average in the set of wins.
 
Freshman Sydney Barrett rolled up 13 kills and six total blocks for the day.
 
Junior Kinsley Kennedy continued to shine as one of the SLIAC's leading setters. Kennedy amassed 71 total assists, which was 85 percent of all of MUW's assists in the two matches.
 
Libero Brooklyn Comfort, a sophomore transfer, averaged 4.7 digs per set – 32 digs in all - to lead all back row players. Like her name, Comfort provided just that in receiving, with a .967 average (one error in 30 chances).
 
"I am so proud of how the team has finished conference play," MUW Head Coach Breylee Linder reflected. "They continue to amaze me week after week. Their composure today, even in moments of pressure, was the most impressive part of their game. I'm so proud of how much they've grown this season."
 
While The W waits for the rest of the SLIAC teams to finish out, the squad will begin a string of four non-conference road games next week with a Tuesday (November 4/6 p.m.) bout at regional rival Millsaps College.