DAYTON, Tenn. — The Milligan University women's volleyball squad competed in their third Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) tilt of the 2026 season on Thursday evening in Dayton, Tenn. at the Bryan College Lions. The Buffaloes suffered their first AAC sweep in the tilt, falling 25-19, 25-20, 25-10.
Set number one was tight, especially across the first 22 points, in which the score was tied 11-11 and neither side led by more than two points. After that, Bryan went on a miniature run that equaled 5-2, giving them their largest lead of the set to that point at 16-13. From there, Milligan was never able to get the deficit back to within two points, eventually falling 25-19.
The second set was nearly identical to the first, with the teams battling to an 11-11 score. After jockeying to a 15-15 tally, the Lions won the next five points to lead 20-15, before the sides split the last 10 evenly to hand MU a 25-20 loss. That put the Lady Buffs' backs against the wall.
The clinching set was not a positive one for the Buffaloes, who fell down 10-2 through 12 points. The Milligan deficit was never less than eight points from that juncture on, as it climbed all the way to a 15-point hole at the conclusion of the match, 25-10.
Ashton Blair had a standout day as an attacker for Milligan, showing her massive potential for the team. She finished with 13 kills on 32 attacks with only three errors to hit at a .313 clip.
Taylor Brinn and
Clare Clark each supplied three kills on a combined 20 attempts and three miscues.
Bella Devoti and
Lacie Weatherman also had multiple putaways, tallying a pair each.
Faith Wilson's 15 assists paced the Buffs', with
Kyndl Hodge supplying seven. Brinn, Devoti and
Abigail Kelly also added one apiece.
Olivia Schoenstra, with 10 digs, led Milligan defensively. Brinn added nine pickups, while Hodge turned in six. Blair (3), Devoti (2), Wilson (2) and
Rachel Bass (1) rounded out the list of players with digs. The Buffaloes had three total blocks in the loss, with
Erin Littleton providing a solo stuff.
Aleah Pickett had a pair of block assists, and Clark and Wilson added the other two.
Milligan (0-7, 0-3 AAC) will stay on the road for their next tilt, making the trip to Athens, Tenn. to face the Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 11 a.m.
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