TAMPA, Fla. - The Lander volleyball team closed out the final day of the Tampa Volleyball Classic on a high note Saturday, earning its first victory of the season and the first career win for head coach
Kathryn Settle with a 3-0 sweep of Emmanuel.
After dropping their opener to No. 24 Findlay earlier in the day, the Bearcats (1-2) rebounded behind a balanced offensive attack and improved efficiency at the net. Lander defeated Emmanuel 25-23, 25-20, 25-16 to wrap up the invitational 1-2 overall.Â
"I'm so proud of the effort and determination that our team showed this weekend," stated Settle. "We battled through two tough matches against two very talented, ranked opponents in Tampa and Findlay. And to be able to beat a team as skilled as Emmanuel was a very proud moment. This was a team win that took all 18 people in our program, and I'm excited to see what this team can accomplish the rest of this season."
Match One - Findlay 3, Lander 0
The Oilers (2-0) controlled the match with a .319 hitting percentage while holding the Bearcats (0-2) to .075. Findlay took the first set 25-17 before surviving a back-and-forth second frame 25-19 and closing out the sweep 25-14 in the third.
Katie Miller paced the Bearcats with 10 kills, eight digs, and two service aces. Browning added five kills and an ace, while setter Enisilina Savelio finished with 19 assists and a team-high 12 digs.
Findlay outperformed Lander in nearly every statistical category, holding a 46-25 edge in kills, 42-23 in assists, and 57-47 in digs. The Oilers also tallied five team blocks compared to two for the Bearcats.
Match Two - Lander 3, Emmanuel 0Â
Miller powered the attack with a season-best 15 kills to go along with seven digs and two blocks. At the same time, junior transfer Savelio turned in a standout all-around effort, posting season highs of 33 assists, seven kills, three aces, and two blocks. Karson Browning chipped in seven kills and two blocks, and freshman Quinn Butler anchored the defense with a team-leading 13 digs.
Lander outpaced Emmanuel (0-3) in nearly every statistical category, holding a 43-31 edge in kills, an 8-4 margin in aces, and a 6-5 advantage in blocks. The Bearcats also hit .256 as a team compared to .111 for the Lions.
The victory marked the first career win for Settle, who took over the Bearcats program ahead of the 2025 season.
The Bearcats will be back in action for their home opener and the first match of the Redderson Invitational, where they will face Young Harris on Thursday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. at Horne Arena. Fans can find the full Redderson match schedule and important information regarding the Invitational hosted by Lander University here.
