ROME, Ga. — The Shorter Hawks volleyball team opened their 2024 season with a commanding 3-0 sweep over Miles College on September 10th at the Winthrop-King Centre in Rome, GA. The Hawks showcased their offensive power and defensive prowess, winning in straight sets: 25-9, 25-14, and 25-10.

Laila Bernardino led the charge with 8 kills on a .353 hitting percentage, adding 3 service aces to her stat line. Caroline Sivills also contributed 6 kills with a .308 hitting percentage, while Taylor-Reese Howell added 4 kills, hitting .333. Emily Crocker was nearly flawless at the net, registering 6 kills on 7 attempts with an outstanding .857 hitting percentage.

Marysa Ocampo directed the offense with 17 assists, while Brielle Wood chipped in with 12 assists. Defensively, libero Mia Alexander anchored the team with 7 digs, while Bernardino and Ocampo each contributed 6 digs, helping to keep the team solid in the back row.

The Hawks applied significant pressure from the service line, collecting 5 aces throughout the match. Bernardino led in this category with 3 aces, while Brielle Wood added another to round out the team's service dominance.

The Hawks finished the match with a team hitting percentage of .341, recording 40 kills and committing only 9 errors on 91 total attacks. In contrast, Miles College struggled to find offensive rhythm, hitting at a negative percentage (-.139).

This dominant performance gives Shorter a strong start to their season, as they look ahead to their next few matchups with confidence. The Hawks will aim to carry this momentum into this weekend where they will compete in the Big Blue Classic hosted by Bluefield State.