Hollins University

2026 N.C. Wesleyan Invitational Volleyball Tournament
Hollins vs Regent and N.C. Wesleyan | Friday, September 4, 2026 | Rocky Mount, N.C.
 
The Basics 

Match 1
Score: Hollins 0 | Regent
Records: Hollins 0-1 / 0-0 ODAC | Royals 2-1 / 0-0 CAC
 
Match 2
Score: Hollins 0 | N.C. Wesleyan 3
Records: Hollins 0-2 / 0-0 ODAC | Battling Bishops 1-1 / 0-0 USA South  

The Lead: The Hollins volleyball team ushered in the new season with a trip to North Carolina to compete at the N.C. Wesleyan Invitational. On the opening day, the Green and Gold faced Regent before closing out the evening with a match against the host Battling Bishops. Making their 2026 debut, Hollins played Regent virtually even before falling to the Royals. The air conditioning in the gym would make for oppressive playing conditions and the young Hollins squad would struggle in falling behind NCW 2-0. The third set was once again close before a final Battling Bishop run gave the home team all the momentum as Hollins fell, 3-0.

Highlights: 

• Hollins fell to Regent 26-28, 23-25, 22-25.
• Regent won their opener against N.C. Wesleyan before taking the court against Hollins. Hu led 24-23 only to see a Royal rally to take the first set. The next two sets would be equally as close with the Royals picking up the 3-0 win.
• The stat line was virtually even: Kills 33-31 (HU), Service Aces 9-8 (HU), Blocks 3-3, Assists 27-27, and Digs 49-49.
• Cassidy Henderson led the Hollins attack with nine kills. First-years Bella Schultz (8) and Ava Willard (6) combined for 14 kills with Laken Tingler finishing with five.
• Norah Madrey recorded two kills to go with a solo block and three service aces. Setter Evelyn Harris had 19 assists in her collegiate debut. Peyton Bartholow led the back row with 13 digs.
• Hollins was defeated by NCWU 14-25, 17-25, 13-25.
• Back-to-back points by HU made the score 7-8 in the opening set before a 13-1 Battling Bishop run secured the first set. In the second frame, an Aliyah Lightsey kill gave Hollins an 11-10 edge. The hosts once again rallied and took a 2-0 lead on the back of an 11-2 surge.
•  The Battling Bishops used another big run, 10-2, to seize control and send Hollins to a 3-0 loss.
• Lightsey registered five kills to lead Hollins. Henderson, Schultz, and Annabelle Kemper added three kills apiece. Harris assisted on 12 of HU's 17 successful attacks.
• Henderson (10) and Harris (8) combined for 18 digs while Lightsey recorded a pair of solo blocks. Abby Neel served the teams only ace of the night.

Up Next: Hollins is back in action tomorrow in the 5^th Place match against Mary Baldwin. The match against the Squirrels is scheduled to start at 9:00am.