GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The Glenville State Volleyball team opened up the 2025 season today at home in the GSU Tournament, winning both of their opening games against Bluefield State, 3-0, and Chowan, 3-1.

Game One - GSU 3 | BSU 0
In the Pioneers first game of the weekend, they were matched up with the Big Blue of Bluefield State. In the first set, the Pioneers started off hot, jumping out to an early 9-2 lead and forcing a timeout from Bluefield State. However, BSU would climb back into the match and make the score 17-13 in the middle stages but a kill from Cali Queen started a run for the Pioneers and they would hang on to win the first set, 25-22. Set two was back and forth the entire way, but senior Rita Kelly would take over and pull the Pioneers to a 25-18 comeback set two win. With the Pioneers being up 2-0 in the match, they had all the momentum heading to the third, running out to a quick 11-3 lead which forced another Bluefield timeout. GSU controlled the set the rest of the way, winning the final set by a score of 25-13 and the match, 3-0.

Final Stats
Bluefield State
Dazzalon Larkins led the team in kills with nine while Soniya Garner had six. Gabby Hale led in assists with 15 and Nakia Reed had four. Larkins also had five blocks to lead the team, while Callesta Styles had two and Maya Morales had 15 digs.

Glenville State
Rita Kelly led the Pioneers with 11 kills with Kaiya Lian notching nine and Deniz Selen Yazar having eight. Sadie Hill and Elitsa Peneva both had 15 assists each and Peneva had six service aces. Mikyala Curry had three blocks with Ava O'Hare and Nina Helder both recording six digs.

Game Two - GSU 3 | CU 1
GSU took on Chowan out of Conference Carolinas in the nightcap at the Waco Center and both teams traded points back and forth in the early portions of the match as it was tied 10 a piece after a GSU timeout. The Pioneers built their lead to 18-13, however the Hawks would close the gap to 21-18 but ultimately the blue and white would pull away winning the first set, 25-22. In set two neither team could separate itself early and both teams could not build a substantial lead however GSU built a three-point lead at 18-15 after a Deniz Selen Yazar kill caused a Chowan timeout. The Hawks  climbed back into the set and tied the game at 22 all. The adjustments after the GSU timeout worked as the Piooneers took two out of the next three points, winning the second set, 25-23.

Set three would see Chowan build an advantage throughout the early and middle stages, leading 18-13 after a service ace, however Glenville State would score the next three points, forcing a CU timeout. Coming out of the break, the Pioneers continued playing strong, leading 21 to 20 after a block at the net. However, the Hawks hung on for a close victory in set three, 25-23, to force a fourth stanza. Set four followed the same script as the previous three, seeing both teams go back-and-forth. A kill followed by a block by Mikayla Curry made it 18-17 in favor of the Pioneers and an attack error would put GSU ahead at 23-20, eventually hanging on to win the set, 25-21, and the match, 3-1.

Final Stats
Chowan
Rosa Lynn Collier and Anna Holcombe led the Hawks with 12 kills while Makeda Edwards had 11. Brooke Hart had 22 assists and Alexandra Liggeri had 15. Gabriella Figueroa had two blocks and Diana Rodriguez recorded 19 digs.

Glenville State
Kaiya Lian led the team with 11 kills, Mikayala Curry had nine and Rita Kelly and Deniz Selen Yazar both had eight. Sadie Hill recorded 19 assists and Elitsa Peneva had 17. Defensively, Kelly finished with five blocks and Selen Yazar notched four while Cali Queen had 14 digs. 

Up Next For The Pioneers
The Piioneers are right back at it tomorrow (Sept. 6) against Carson-Newman and West Virginia Wesleyan at 2 & 7 p.m.
  Read Full Article