ATLANTA, Ga. – The W volleyball found the going tough in the first competition of 2025 at the Emory University Jenny McDowell Invitational at Woodruff Arena. The Owls fell to LaGrange College, 3-1, on Friday evening, before losing twice Saturday in a marathon match versus Oglethorpe University, 3-2, and a sweep by host Emory, 3-0.
 
Against LaGrange, MUW lost by set scores of 25-15, 22-25, 25-17, 25-17.  Megan Neeb led the attack with 12 kills. Skye Letson and Madison McBrayer added eight and seven kills, respectively. Avery Watts served up five of MUW's 10 aces as a team.
 
Saturday's first match versus Oglethorpe was especially heartbreaking for The W, after the team jumped out to a 2-0 lead (25-13, 25-15), before dropping the final three sets (21-25, 20-25, 12-15). McBrayer had a double-double of 15 kills and 10 digs, as did teammate Neeb with 13 kills and 15 digs. Setter Kinsley Kennedy had 42 assists - the second-most in a five-set match and third most, ever, in program history – along with a team-leading 17 digs. Watts had six blocks, as well.
 
In the finale, The W was swept by unbeaten Emory (25-15, 25-10, 25-15). McBrayer and Sydney Barrett each had four kills. Kennedy added 11 assists.
 
For the trio of matches, Neeb averaged 2.25 kills per set, McBrayer 2.17 per set, and Letson 1.58 KPS. For the 12 total sets played, Kennedy averaged 6.58 assists and 0.75 aces. On defense, Brooklyn Comfort and Kennedy averaged 2.83 and 2.67 digs per set, respectively. Letson amassed 12 total blocks and Watts knocked down eight.
 
The W will next play its home opener on Tuesday (September 2/7 p.m.), hosting Freed-Hardeman University.