The NC Wesleyan Volleyball Team traveled to Salem, VA for a weekend at Roanoke College's Maroon Classic. The Bishops faced non-conference and conference opponents, finishing 1-3 for the weekend.

NCWU vs. Salem College, 0-3

The Bishops played Spirits of Salem College during their first matchup, falling 15-25, 12-25, and 18-25. Offensive highlights include first-year Katie Fulton's 10 kills for a .217 hitting percentage with 5 assists. First-year middle Ludmila Borges hit a .333 with 6 kills, while senior Aubrey Nicholson added 5 kills and junior Sloan Martin tallied 4 kills and 20 assists.

Barrett Davis led the Bishop defense, earning 12 digs against the Spirits. Senior Kira Kristjansom added 5 digs, while Katie Fulton and Mary Cat Davis added 6 digs each. This was not enough to stop the Spirits' offense, who hit a .363 for the match. The Bishops will face Salem College in conference play in the coming weeks.

NCWU vs. Randolph College, 2-3

The Bishops' second match of the weekend was a close five-setter, losing to the Wildcats of Randolph College 25-20, 16-25, 21-25, 25-21, and 12-15. Freshman Ludmilla Borges led the offense again, hitting a .360 with 13 kills in the middle. Junior right-side Desiree Walker followed with a .212, earning 5 kills and 16 assists. Sloan Martin added 27 assists for the offense and a season-high 22 digs.

The remaining defensive effort was headed by Katie Fulton, totaling 14 digs. Senior defensive specialist Kira Kristjansom earned 11 digs. Libero Barrett Davis and defensive specialist Mary Cat Davis added a matching 9 digs each.

The Bishops tallied 14 block assists, 9 blocks, and 2 solo blocks for the match, falling just short of stopping the Wildcat offense.

NCWU vs. Ferrum College, 3-1

The third matchup of the weekend was against the Panthers of Ferrum College. The first set was a close loss at 26-28, but the Bishops managed to sweep the remaining three sets 25-18, 25-22, and 25-19.

The Bishops hit a .205, their best offensive showing of the tournament. First-year outside hitter Corinna Hall led the team with 16 kills, a .286 for the match. Fellow freshman Emily Foraker hit a team-high .643 with 9 kills. Junior Mary Alice Butler also earned a season-best, hitting a .412 with 7 kills in the middle.

Fifth year Barrett Davis led the defense with 19 digs, followed by Sloan Martin with 17 digs, and Kira Kristjansom with 14 digs. Martin also tallied 27 assists for the Bishops, while Davis added 8 assists at libero.

The team's efforts allowed the Bishops to out-hit and out-dig the Panthers, securing their only win of the weekend.

NCWU vs. Roanoke College, 0-3

NC Wesleyan Volleyball faced the hosting Maroons of Roanoke College in their last match of the weekend, losing in a close three-setter 18-25, 21-25, and 18-25.

The Bishops saw a strong offensive lineup from the Maroons, managing a team total of 32 digs. Barrett Davis earned 9 digs at libero followed by setter Sloan Martin with 8 digs. First-year Ludmila Borges added 2 solo blocks at the net, with Desiree Walker's 1 solo block in the third set.

First-year Emily Foraker led a struggling Bishop offense by hitting an efficient .714 with 5 kills. Borges and Walker each added 3 kills, while Martin tallied 2 kills and 12 assists for the match. This was not enough to overpower Roanoke's front row, who managed 38 kills at the net.

Fifth-year graduate transfer Barrett Davis was named to the Maroon Classic's All-Tournament Team, totaling 49 digs, 4 aces, and 12 assists. Her scrappy defensive effort and out-of-system sets were essential to the Bishops' win against Ferrum and close play against Roanoke and Randolph. The Bishops finished the weekend 1-3 and now sit at 3-3 overall. The team travels to Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte on Thursday for non-conference play.