NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Shorter Volleyball opened the 2026 season with a split Friday at the Ray Thrasher Classic, defeating Christian Brothers in a five-set battle before falling to UAH in five sets.
 

The Hawks (1-1) opened the day with a 3-2 (25-15, 25-11, 17-25, 20-25, 15-10) victory over Christian Brothers before UAH edged Shorter 3-2 (25-20, 25-22, 18-25, 21-25, 16-14) in the nightcap.
 

Match One: Shorter 3, Christian Brothers 2

Shorter wasted little time establishing control in its season opener, racing out to a 13-5 advantage in the first set. Christian Brothers responded with a 5-1 run, but the Hawks quickly regained momentum and pulled away for a 25-15 victory.
 

The Hawks carried that momentum into the second, building a 15-9 advantage before closing the set on a dominant 10-2 run. Shorter took the frame 25-11 to move within one set of a season-opening sweep.
 

Christian Brothers responded in the third, breaking open an early back-and-forth battle to earn a 25-17 victory. The Buccaneers continued their comeback in the fourth, building a 14-9 advantage before Shorter answered with a 5-1 run to pull within one. CBU weathered the rally, however, taking the set 25-20 to force a decisive fifth.

 

Shorter regained control immediately in the fifth, using a 7-2 opening run to put the Buccaneers on their heels. CBU attempted to close the gap, but the Hawks never relinquished the lead and finished off the 15-10 victory to secure their first win of the season.

 

Caroline Sivills paced the Shorter attack with 14 kills and 15.0 points while adding three digs. Taylor-Reese Howell contributed nine kills and 10.0 points, while Caitlyn Sutton anchored the defensive effort with a match-high 29 digs to go along with seven assists.


Match Two: Shorter 2, UAH 3


Shorter found itself playing from behind early in the nightcap as UAH scored the first nine points of the opening set. The Hawks battled their way back into the frame, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome as the Chargers held on for a 25-20 victory.

 

The second set was much tighter, with neither side able to create significant separation down the stretch. A kill from Alexis Williams brought Shorter within one at 23-22, but UAH responded with consecutive points to claim the set 25-22 and take a 2-0 match lead.
 

Facing a potential sweep, the Hawks answered. Shorter jumped out to a 12-6 advantage in the third and maintained control throughout the frame, taking a 25-18 victory to extend the match.

 

The Hawks carried the momentum into a tightly contested fourth set. With the teams trading points throughout the frame, Shorter created separation with a 15-12 advantage. UAH continued to pressure the Hawks down the stretch, but Shorter held off the Chargers to force a fifth and deciding set.

 

Neither team gave an inch in the fifth. UAH created a 10-7 advantage before a Shorter timeout, but the Hawks battled back and eventually evened the score at 14-14 on a kill from Howell. The Chargers responded with back-to-back kills, however, escaping with a 16-14 victory to hand Shorter its first loss of the season.

 

Howell led the Hawks with 13 kills and 15.0 points while adding two blocks. Alexis Williams finished with 10 kills, 14.0 points and four blocks.
 

UP NEXT
Shorter closes out the Ray Thrasher Classic on Saturday against host Trevecca Nazarene. First serve is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Nashville.



FOLLOW THE HAWKS
For complete coverage of Shorter Volleyball, follow the Hawks on social media @ShorterHawks (Twitter), @shorter_volleyball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Shorter Athletics at goshorterhawks.com.