Southwestern University

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The Southwestern University Volleyball team opened SAA play with two games in the Trinity Pod on Friday at the Bell Center, going 1-1 after falling to Centre College 0-3 (13-25, 18-25, 17-25), before taking down Oglethorpe University 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 24-14). The split moves the Pirates to 8-4 and 1-1 in conference play.
 
MATCH ONE | CC 3, SU 0

Southwestern and Centre traded points early before the Colonels started to pull away. Centre took a 15-8 lead and continued to stretch their lead despite the Pirates pulling within three at 16-13. Centre was able to use a 9-0 run to secure the first set 25-13.

SU opened the second set with a 2-0 lead, but Centre responded by jumping ahead 5-2 and continued to build separation. The Colonels pushed their lead to 15-6 before the Pirates battled back late, but Centre held on for a 25-18 victory to take a 2-0 lead.

Centre again took control early, jumping ahead 8-4 and later leading 14-6. Southwestern made a strong push late in the match, cutting the deficit to 23-17, but the Colonels answered with the final two points to earn the sweep.

MATCH TWO | SU, 3 OU 0

The Pirates established control early in the opening set, using a strong offensive attack to build separation from the Stormy Petrels. Southwestern hit .382 in the set with 16 kills on 34 attacks. Sophia Burke led the Pirates with six of her 15 kills in the first set as SU cruised to the 25-14 win.

Oglethorpe stayed within striking distance early in the second set, but Southwestern continued to create separation with its serving and defensive. The Pirates used an 8-2 run to take control and held the Stormy Petrels to a -.026 hitting percentage. SU closed the set with a 25-16 victory to take a 2-0 match lead.

The Pirates finished the sweep by again taking control early. Southwestern hit .346 with 12 kills and added four blocks in the final set. SU built its advantage throughout the set before closing out Oglethorpe 25-14.

Burke led the Pirates with 15 kills while hitting .652, along with four blocks. Evamarie Planchet added eight kills and 12 digs. Tatum Ahrens recorded seven kills and three blocks, and Caroline Srubar finished with 25 assists.

MATCH NOTES

• Southwestern held Oglethorpe to a .010 hitting percentage, marking the lowest hitting percentage they have held a team to this season. It's the lowest hitting percentage the Pirates have allowed going back to 2024.
• Burke finished the day with 21 total kills. She registered a career-high 15 in the victory against Oglethorpe. Burke also collected four blocks in the win, matching her season-high.
• Srubar collected 25 assists in each of today's matches. She finished the day with five service aces with two against Centre and three versus OU.
• Planchet has surpassed 100 kills on the season after registering 11 across both of today's matches. She sits at 107 for the season.
• Ahrens set a new season-high with three blocks against OU.
• Jaidan Adams made her season debut against Oglethorpe.

UP NEXT
Southwestern closes out the opening weekend of SAA play in the Trinity pod with a match against No. 9 Berry College tomorrow afternoon at 12:45 pm. The game will be streamed on YouTube.