Lander downs Middle Georgia in four to Return to the Win Column

Lander F-1167 6-10,3-3 Peach Belt

Middle Georgia F-30272 2-17,0-6 Peach Belt

Lander F-1167

6-10,3-3 Peach Belt

Final

Oct. 09, 2026

Middle Georgia F-30272

2-17,0-6 Peach Belt

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Lander F-1167	25	25	19	25	(3)
Middle Georgia F-30272	17	23	25	18	(1)

Summary
Box Score

Wilson Moreno

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | 10/9/2026 9:28:00 PM | Hailey Franklin - Assistant Sports Information Director

Lander downs Middle Georgia in four to Return to the Win Column

MACON, Ga. - Lander volleyball returned to the win column Friday night, defeating Middle Georgia 3-1 in Peach Belt Conference action to open its two-match road series against the Knights.

The Bearcats (6-10, 3-3 PBC) secured the victory with set scores of 25-17, 25-23, 19-25 and 25-18, snapping a four-match losing streak and improving to 2-0 against Middle Georgia this season.

Freshman Gracelyn America led Lander offensively with 13 kills, matching the career high she set earlier in the week against Mars Hill. Karson Browning followed with 11 kills on a .286 hitting percentage, adding three blocks and two service aces. Amelia May added nine kills on .294, and Quinn Butler added nine kills and 19 digs.

Sam Alwardt led the Bearcats defensively with a match-high 26 digs and three service aces, while freshman setter Madeline Green recorded 29 assists, eight digs and two aces. Olivia Shaw led Lander at the net with four blocks.

Lander took control midway through the opening set after the two teams traded points early. Trailing 8-6, the Bearcats responded with a 7-2 run to take a 13-9 advantage. Lander continued to build its lead, stretching the margin to 20-11 behind kills from Browning and May. The Bearcats hit .289 with 16 kills before closing out the set 25-17.

Middle Georgia opened the second set with a 5-1 advantage before Lander battled back to pull within 7-5. The Knights extended their lead to 17-12, but the Bearcats responded with a four-point run that included back-to-back kills from Shaw and a service ace from Alwardt.

Lander battled back to tie the set at 18-18 before a service ace from Sarah VanDaele gave the Bearcats a 21-20 advantage. Kills from Karson Browning and Gracelyn America down the stretch secured the 25-23 victory.

The Knights responded in the third set, jumping out to a 7-4 lead before extending their advantage to 15-7. Lander put together a three-point run late in the frame, highlighted by a Browning service ace, to cut the deficit to 19-15. However, Middle Georgia maintained its advantage and took the set 25-19 to force a fourth.

Lander answered in the fourth, opening with a 6-2 lead before Middle Georgia rallied to even the score at 7-7. The Bearcats responded with a 3-1 run to regain control and later used a 5-1 stretch to extend their advantage to 19-12. Lander hit a match-best .355 with 16 kills in the final frame, and Browning delivered the match-winning kill to seal the 25-18 victory.

Lander finished with 55 kills on a .212 hitting percentage, while holding Middle Georgia to .169. The Bearcats also recorded 10 service aces and held advantages in digs (73-61) and assists (49-41).

The victory marked Lander's second win over Middle Georgia this season after sweeping the Knights 3-0 at Finis Horne Arena on Sept. 19.

The Bearcats return to action Saturday, Oct. 10, for the second match of the weekend against Middle Georgia. The first serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Macon, Ga.

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