Carolina University’s women’s volleyball team opened the Maroon Classic in Salem, Virginia, on September 5, 2025, with a split result. The Bruins lost their first match to Salem College but rebounded to defeat Brevard College in the evening.
In the opening match against Salem College, Carolina took the first set 25-18 but then dropped three straight sets (12-25, 12-25, 15-25), resulting in a 3-1 loss. SarahElizabeth Samuels led Carolina with 12 kills. Karli Totel contributed seven kills and six digs. Syvannah Poore recorded 19 assists and two service aces, while libero Kai Horta anchored the defense with 20 digs.
Carolina recovered in their second match of the day against Brevard College. After losing a close first set (23-25), they won the next three sets (25-22, 25-23, 25-15) to secure a four-set victory. Totel led with 15 kills and added 17 digs. Kammi Naude had an efficient performance with 11 kills on a .588 hitting percentage. Samuels again contributed with 12 kills. Poore directed the offense with 42 assists, and Horta tallied another strong defensive effort with 25 digs.
Head Coach Chelsea Jones commented on her team’s performance: “We showed a lot of character today. The first match was a learning opportunity, but I was really proud of how the team regrouped and played with confidence against Brevard. If we keep that mentality, we’ll continue to grow stronger as the season progresses.”
Carolina University now holds a season record of 3-3 and will continue play at the Maroon Classic on September 6. They are scheduled to face Methodist University at 2:00 p.m., followed by North Carolina Wesleyan University at 4:00 p.m.
