Lander Pushes Emmanuel Late in Nonconference Finale

Lander Lander 7-13,4-5 Peach Belt

Emmanuel (GA) Emm 19-6,13-2 Conference Carolinas

Lander Lander

7-13,4-5 Peach Belt

Final

Oct. 20, 2026

Emmanuel (GA) Emm

19-6,13-2 Conference Carolinas

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	F
Lander Lander	22	17	22	(0)
Emmanuel (GA) Emm	25	25	25	(3)

Summary
Box Score

Wilson Moreno

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | 10/20/2026 8:47:00 PM | Hailey Franklin - Assistant Sports Information Director

Lander Pushes Emmanuel Late in Nonconference Finale

FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. - Freshman Gracelyn America led the Lander volleyball team with nine kills Tuesday evening as the Bearcats closed out their regular-season nonconference schedule with a 3-0 loss to Emmanuel at the Shaw Athletic Center.

The Bearcats (7-13, 4-5 PBC) fell to the Lions (19-6, 13-2 Conference Carolinas) in straight sets: 25-22, 25-17, and 25-22.

America paced Lander offensively with nine kills, while Quinn Butler followed with seven kills and 12 digs. Amelia May added five kills and four blocks, while Olivia Shaw contributed four kills and four blocks. Karson Browning finished with four kills and three blocks.

Defensively, Sam Alwardt led the Bearcats with a match-high 20 digs, marking her sixth consecutive match with at least 20 digs. Freshman Camryn Scherer added 14 digs and two service aces, while setter Madeline Green finished with 25 assists and eight digs.

Emmanuel opened the first set with a 5-0 lead before extending it to 15-6. Lander began to chip away at the deficit, using kills from May and Browning to pull within five at 20-15.

The Bearcats continued their rally with a five-point run, highlighted by two kills from America and a block from Shaw and Green, to even the score at 21-21. Despite Lander's late comeback, Emmanuel secured the final three points to take the opening set 25-22.

The Bearcats responded with a strong start to the second set, taking a 5-2 lead behind consecutive blocks from Browning and May and a kill from May. Emmanuel answered to move ahead 8-6 before extending its advantage to 15-7.

Lander put together a four-point run late in the frame, highlighted by back-to-back service aces from Scherer and a Butler kill, to pull within five at 19-14. However, the Lions maintained their lead to secure the 25-17 victory.

In the third set, Lander overcame an early deficit to take a 7-5 advantage behind a Browning service ace and another Butler kill. The teams traded points through the middle of the frame, with the Bearcats winning two straight points to tie the score at 14-14. A kill from Shaw later gave Lander a 16-15 lead before the Lions responded to move ahead 19-18.

Trailing 21-19, the Bearcats rallied with kills from Shaw and America, followed by an Emmanuel attack error, to take a 22-21 lead. However, the Lions answered with four consecutive points to claim the set 25-22 and secure the match.

Lander finished with 31 kills, five service aces, seven blocks, and 63 digs. The Bearcats held advantages in both digs (63-61) and blocks (7-6), while Emmanuel recorded 46 kills on a .220 hitting percentage.

The Bearcats return to Peach Belt Conference play this weekend with a two-match road series against Georgia College in Milledgeville, Ga. The series opens Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. before concluding Saturday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m.

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