WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Guilford College volleyball team (6-5, 1-2 ODAC) went 1-1 on Saturday at the Carolina University tri-match, opening with a sweep (25-23, 25-19, 25-19) of the host Bruins (11-6, 0-0 CAC) before dropping a nail-biting five-set decision (25-15, 25-12, 25-18, 26-24, 15-9) to Emory & Henry University (2-9, 0-4 SAC).

GAME ONE
The Quakers opened the day with a 3-0 sweep of Carolina University.

Natalie Moore (Talbott, Tenn.) paced the Guilford offense with a double-double of 10 kills and 11 digs, while Madison Duvall (Sophia, N.C.) added nine kills on an efficient .438 hitting percentage. Chrisbel Alcantara (San Juan, Puerto Rico) also notched nine kills, and Jillian Mapes (Hodges, S.C.) directed the attack with 27 assists. Defensively, Vivian Cavataio (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) anchored the back row with 12 digs.

For the Bruins, Britney Comolli tallied 10 kills, Natalia Cano dished out 14 assists, and Kai Horta recorded a match-high 19 digs.

Guilford controlled the match from start to finish, taking all three sets behind a balanced effort. In the opener, Moore and Duvall powered the attack, with Duvall delivering back-to-back aces to spark a late push in the 25-23 win.

The Quakers carried that momentum into set two, as Moore, Duvall, and Alcantara kept the offense rolling while Zoe Whisnant (Greensboro, N.C.) and Cavataio anchored the defense, closing the frame 25-19.

In the third, Cavataio's serving ignited a decisive rally, and timely kills from Alcantara and Kaci Johnson (Winterville, N.C.) sealed the sweep with another 25-19 victory.

GAME TWO
In their second match, Guilford battled NCAA Division II Emory & Henry to five sets before falling 3-2.

Moore once again led the way for the Quakers with 15 kills and 24 receptions, while Duvall added 11 kills and Johnson chipped in nine more. Mapes orchestrated the offense with a match-high 39 assists, and Cavataio steadied the defense with 16 digs.

For the Wasps, Gracyn Miller powered the attack with 16 kills, while Tori Boling turned in a double-double of 10 kills and 16 digs. Zoie Pace contributed 22 assists and 18 digs, and Sydni Davis added 24 assists to round out the Wasps' strong effort.

The Wasps set the tone early, using steady serving and net play to pull away as Guilford dropped the opener, 25-15.

Emory & Henry's Miller provided five kills in the second set, contributing to a 25-12 win, advancing their lead to 2-0.

Guilford responded with its sharpest set, created by key blocks courtesy of Johnson and Haley Pasour (Winterville, N.C.). Amber Chiarolanzio (Deep Gap, N.C.) and Lacie Evans (Statesville, N.C.) added energy with two aces each as the Quakers rolled to a 25-18 win.

In a back-and-forth frame, Moore, Johnson, and Angel Brown (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) came up with clutch kills as Guilford held on late for a 26-24 victory to force a fifth set. The Wasps capitalized on a quick start in the decider, building a cushion the Quakers couldn't erase as Guilford fell 15-9, dropping the match 3-2.

The Quakers return to action on Wednesday, October 1st, for an ODAC matchup against the Wildcats of Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA. First serve at 6:30 PM.

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