FERRUM, Va. -- The Ferrum College volleyball team opened its 2026 campaign with a doubleheader sweep today at Swartz Gym. The Panthers defeated Carolina University 3-2 in the opener, then beat Spartanburg Methodist College 3-1 in the nightcap. The two victories marked the first career wins for new Panther head coach
Morgan Milligan.
SCORES
Ferrum def. Carolina University 24-26, 25-16, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13
Ferrum def. Spartanburg Methodist 25-18, 23-25, 25-10, 25-11
RECORDS
Ferrum 2-0
Carolina University 1-1
Spartanburg Methodist 0-2
FERRUM-CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
The Panthers opened the season with a thrilling five-set victory over Carolina University. Ferrum dropped the first set 26-24, but answered with a 25-16 win in the second. Carolina University reclaimed the lead with a 25-22 third-set victory before Ferrum rallied to take the fourth 25-19 and force a deciding fifth set.
Ferrum held off the Bruins 15-13 in the final set to give the Panthers their first win of the saason. Catherine Bennett led the Panthers with 18 kills and added 16 digs. Makayla Rumley posted 14 kills while hitting .314, while Emma Powell had nine kills. Danielle Worthy added seven kills and four service aces. Harleigh Propst directed the Ferrum offense with 31 assists and had 13 digs. Daniela Castillo added 13 digs, while Bennett finished with a team-high 16 digs.
FERRUM-SPARTANBURG METHODIST
Ferrum carried its momentum into the nightcap, taking the first set 25-18. Spartanburg Methodist answered with a 25-23 win in the second set, but the Panthers dominated the final two sets, winning 25-10 and 25-11 to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Lily Ritzema led Ferrum with nine kills while hitting .500. Selah Dellinger added six kills and hit .294, while Propst, Renee Dove and Sarabeth Johnson each had four kills.
Ferrum's serving game was strong throughout the match, with the Panthers recording 21 service aces.
Avery Tucker had four aces, while Propst added three. Dellinger and Powell each recorded two blocks as Ferrum finished with 10 total blocks.
The Panthers hit .245 as a team and recorded 40 kills, 38 assists and 57 digs in the victory.
UP NEXT
Coach Morgan Milligan's team will return to action on Tuesday, September 1 when they travel to Emory & Henry University. Match time is set for 6 pm.
