ROCK HILL, S.C. — William & Mary volleyball began its season with a victory, defeating Charlotte in straight sets, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18, at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, S.C., on Friday.

The Tribe (1-0) secured a 25-21 victory in the first set, capitalizing on a series of scoring streaks and critical plays. The set began with Charlotte (0-1) committing consecutive service errors, allowing W&M to gain an early 3-1 lead. Shylah Swope was instrumental with multiple assists, including a key setup for Katherine Arnason at 14-9, while Devereaux Hoxsie drilled a service ace that extended the lead to 15-9. Despite Charlotte closing the gap to 19-18, Nicole Smith and Ryann Love provided crucial kills, with Love's final play blocking Birmingham's attack to seal the set.

The second set began with the Green and Gold capitalizing on Charlotte's attack errors, establishing an early lead. Audrey Brcka played a pivotal role, recording multiple kills, including a key point at 23-19 that helped halt Charlotte's momentum. Olivia Esposito's consecutive service aces expanded the lead to 11-6, providing a cushion that the team maintained throughout the set. Despite a late surge from Charlotte to close the gap to 23-22, W&M closed out the set with a kill from Arnason, securing a 25-22 victory.

The third set began with a strong start by Charlotte, who took an early 3-0 lead, but the Tribe responded quickly. Avery Horejsi made an impact with two consecutive service aces, contributing to a 6-0 run, turning a 3-6 deficit into a 9-6 lead for W&M. Love's kill, assisted by Swope, capped the set with a decisive 25-18 victory for the Green and Gold.

GAME NUGGETS