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HOME OF THE LANDER UNIVERSITY BEARCATS #CLAWSUP
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Converse Conv 0-1,0-0 Conference Carolinas
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Winner Lander Lander 1-0,0-0 Peach Belt
Converse Conv
0-1,0-0 Conference Carolinas
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Final
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Lander Lander
1-0,0-0 Peach Belt
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Set Scores
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Converse Conv 20 22 29 22 (1)
Lander Lander 25 25 27 25 (3)
VB Celebration vs Converse
Wilson Moreno

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Hailey Franklin - Assistant Sports Information Director

Bearcats Claim Season-Opening Victory Over Converse

GREENWOOD - The Lander volleyball team opened the 2026 season in the win column Thursday night, defeating Converse 3-1 inside Finis Horne Arena on the first night of the Redderson Invitational.

The Bearcats (1-0) took control early with wins of 25-20 and 25-22 in the opening two sets before the Valkyries (0-1) fought off Lander in an extended third set to win 29-27. Lander responded with a 25-22 victory in the fourth to close out the match.

Junior Karson Browning led the Bearcat attack with a match-high 15 kills while hitting .243 and added five total blocks for a match-high 19 points. Quinn Butler finished with 10 kills and 17 digs for the first double-double of the season, while Ryleigh Willard added nine kills on a team-best .375 hitting percentage.

Sam Alwardt added 17 digs and delivered four of Lander's nine service aces, while Olivia Shaw added seven kills on a .333 clip and three blocks. 

The freshmen delivered for the Blue and Gold in their collegiate debuts. Gracelyn America recorded nine kills while hitting .222 across three sets. Madeline Green directed the Lander offense with 40 assists, while Camryn Scherer anchored the back row with a team-high 20 digs.

Lander set the tone offensively in the opening frame, putting down 15 kills while hitting .244, its best attacking percentage of the match. The Bearcats held Converse to a .054 clip with 10 kills and eight attack errors on the way to a 25-20 opening-set victory.

The Bearcats continued to apply pressure in the second, holding the Valkyries to a .045 hitting percentage. Lander collected 13 kills in the frame and held off Converse down the stretch for a 25-22 victory to take a 2-0 advantage into the break.

Converse responded in a back-and-forth third set that required extra points to decide. Both offenses found more success in the frame, with Lander recording a set-high 16 kills and hitting .222 while Converse totaled 15 kills on a .186 clip. Neither side was able to create separation late before the Valkyries escaped with a 29-27 victory to extend the match.

The Bearcats answered in the fourth despite being held to one of its lowest hitting percentage of the night. Lander's defense helped make the difference, forcing Converse into 10 attack errors and a .059 hitting percentage in the frame. The Bearcats held off the Valkyries for a 25-22 win to secure the season-opening victory.

Lander finished with advantages in kills (54-47), assists (51-43), service aces (9-6), blocks (8-7) and digs (85-82). The Bearcat defense held Converse below a .100 hitting percentage in three of the four sets and forced 32 attack errors for the match.

Browning's 15-kill performance marked the first double-digit kill outing of her junior campaign after entering the season as a PBC Preseason All-Conference selection.

Lander returns to Finis Horne Arena for day two of the Redderson Invitational with a matchup against No. 13 Wingate. First serve is set for 5:30 p.m.
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