GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Washington and Lee University women's volleyball team kicked off the 2026 season with a three-set sweep over Greensboro College on Tuesday night in the Gate City.
HOW IT HAPPENED (W&L 3-0, 25-19 25-20, 25-18)
- The Generals (1-0) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a pair of Greensboro (0-1) attack errors and a kill by Ava Fugitt. Following an 8-2 run by the Pride, W&L responded with a similar run to take a 13-10 lead. Cara Hamil and Emma Mulvaney each recorded a pair of kills during the scoring stretch, while Grace Mitchener added one. Abigail Leo halted the run with a kill before the Blue and White used a 7-1 spurt to extend their lead to 20-12. Fugitt fueled the run with three kills, while Mulvaney and Reese Gilla each added one. A 5-1 Greensboro run cut the Generals' lead to four before the teams traded points late in the set, making it 23-19 in favor of W&L. A Greensboro attack error and a service ace from Vivi Vasquez secured a 25-19 first-set win.
- Both teams traded points early in the second set before Greensboro registered four straight points to take a 7-5 lead. Back-to-back kills from Ava Gaines leveled the set at seven before a 3-1 run by the Pride extended their lead back to two. After more back-and-forth action, the Generals appeared to break the set open with six unanswered points, highlighted by kills from Hamil and Mulvaney and a service ace from Addi Johnson. An ensuing 5-0 Greensboro run knotted the set at 18 before the Blue and White closed the frame with a 7-2 run to take a two-set lead. Mitchener registered three kills during the final run, while Hamil added a pair.
- Greensboro jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the third set before a 4-1 Generals run tied the frame at six behind a kill from Gilla and a service ace from Johnson. Following back-to-back Greensboro points, W&L responded with a 6-2 run to take a 12-10 lead. Hamil provided a pair of kills, while Vasquez notched her second service ace of the evening during the run. A Payton Shiflet kill briefly halted the Generals' momentum before the Blue and White rattled off four consecutive points behind three Greensboro attack errors and a kill from Fugitt. After a block from Dilynn Norris and a kill from Leo, the Generals closed out the season-opening win with a 6-2 run. Gilla, Mulvaney, Hamil and Fugitt each recorded kills during the final stretch, while Gaines and Fugitt teamed up for a block to secure the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Cara Hamil paced the match with 12 kills on 31 swings for a .258 hitting percentage. Grace Mitchener registered a double-double with 11 kills and 17 digs.
- Sienna Nichoson dished out a team-high 19 assists, while Addi Johnson added 16 in the win. Vivi Vasquez and Mitchener led the match with two service aces apiece, while Emily Schellenberg added one.
- Vasquez led the Blue and White with 19 digs, while Emma Mulvaney reached double figures with 12 digs in her collegiate debut.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Blue and White notched their fourth straight season-opening win while securing their seventh consecutive victory over the Pride and their first since the teams last met in 2011.
- W&L registered 42 kills on 128 swings with 14 errors for a .219 hitting percentage, highlighted by a .282 clip in the second set. The Generals held the Pride to a .085 hitting percentage while forcing 22 attack errors.
- W&L recorded match highs with 65 digs and 41 assists while adding five service aces and three blocks.
UP NEXT
- The Generals are back in action on Friday, Sept. 4 as they head to Granville, Ohio for a tri-match at Denison University. W&L will take on Franciscan University at 5 p.m. followed by the Big Red at 7 p.m.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
