NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Stonehill volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to Nicholls State and Oral Roberts to open the 2026 campaign on Friday afternoon.
STONEHILL HIGHLIGHTS
- The Skyhawks registered 17 service aces as a team against Nicholls, which included four aces each from Kristi Bishop and Abby Farrell.
- Sophomore Sam Loyd posted a .364 attack percentage with 17 kills on 33 attempts against Nicholls.
- Senior Addy Frye came one dig shy of a double-double tallying 14 kills and nine digs against Nicholls.
- Junior Annabell Svenson was flawless from the floor against Oral Roberts tallying seven kills on 11 attempts for a .636 attack percentage.
- Senior Sammy Franco led the Skyhawks offense with eight kills against Oral Roberts.
STONEHILL VS. NICHOLLS STATE
The Skyhawks first match of the day was a back-and-forth barn burner. Nicholls jumped out to the early match lead, claiming the first set, 25-15, but Stonehill answered in the second set.
Sophomore setter Kendra Setter paced a Skyhawk offense that posted an outstanding .444 attack percentage (14 kills on 27 attempts with just two errors) to take the second set, 25-21.
After falling to the Colonels in the third set, the Skyhawks rebounded and evened the match once again to force a fifth set with a 25-21 win. However, in the In the deciding frame, Nicholls State capitalized on timely blocks and key attack runs to build a late cushion, holding off a late Stonehill rally to seal the match.
STONEHILL VS. ORAL ROBERTS
Oral Roberts took an early lead winning the first set, 25-17, but the Skyhawks were not going away and gave the Golden Eagles a challenge in the second set.
The most competitive stretch of the afternoon saw 13 ties and multiple set-point chances for both sides. Stonehill found rhythm behind Sawyer, building a 24-22 lead late, but the Golden Eagles responded with a 3-0 run to take a 25-24 lead and never looked back to win the set, 28-26.
The Skyhawks fought to extend the match in the third set, keeping the set to within two points down the stretch, but it was not enough to power past the Golden Eagles as they took the third set and the match 25-23.
UP NEXT
Stonehill returns to the court tomorrow for Day Two of the New Orleans/Nicholls State Invitational facing New Orleans at 11 a.m. central time and Alcorn State at 6 p.m. central time.
