BLUEFIELD, West Va. — Over the weekend, Shorter University Volleyball competed in four exciting matches at the Big Blue Classic hosted by Bluefield State in Bluefield, West Virginia. The VolleyHawks demonstrated their talent and determination, delivering strong performances in both hard-fought matches and decisive victories. Despite facing tough competition, several standout individual performances were key highlights of the tournament.
Shorter began the tournament on a strong note, defeating Bluefield State 3-1 in four sets (25-21, 25-27, 25-21, 25-18). Three Rivers Nutrition "Player of the Game"
Caroline Sivills recorded 17 kills with an impressive .464 hitting percentage.
Laila Bernardino was also a standout for Shorter, leading the team with 18 kills.
Audrey Brooks contributed significantly with 7 kills on a .333 hitting percentage. Setter
Marysa Ocampo delivered 32 assists, her new career high at Shorter, to keep the offensive rhythm going. The team's balanced effort allowed them to overpower Bluefield State and claim their first win of the tournament.
The Lady Hawks Volleyball team continued its winning momentum in their Friday evening match, sweeping Salem 3-0 (25-21, 25-11, 25-23).
Taylor-Reese Howell led the way with 10 kills, while
Emily Crocker was nearly flawless, hitting .600 with 6 kills.
Marysa Ocampo again orchestrated the offense with 21 assists, and
Laila Bernardino provided both offensive and defensive support with 7 kills and 4 digs. Shorter's consistent attack proved too much for Salem as the Hawks secured their second win of the day.
In a tightly contested five-set thriller, Shorter fell to Lees-McRae 3-2 (20-25, 25-9, 26-24, 20-25, 17-19). Despite the loss, Shorter exhibited a resilient performance.
Laila Bernardino once again led the team with 17 kills, while
Emily Crocker added 14.
Taylor-Reese Howell and
Caroline Sivills also made significant contributions with 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Ocampo's 31 assists fueled the offense, and
Mia Alexander provided stellar defense with 19 digs. Despite the strong effort, the VolleyHawks fell just short in the final set.
In their final match of the tournament, Shorter was defeated by West Virginia Wesleyan 3-1 (17-25, 20-25, 25-23, 20-25).
Laila Bernardino led the team once again with 11 kills, while Crocker added 8. Howell and Sivills also made notable contributions with 7 kills each.
Brielle Wood and
Marysa Ocampo facilitated the offense with 14 and 11 assists, respectively. Despite a valiant effort in through four sets, the Lady Hawks could not maintain momentum, finishing the tournament with a 2-2 record.
