BLUEFIELD, W.Va. - The Glenville State Volleyball team opened the 2026 season today (Aug. 28) in the Big Blue Classic in Bluefield, losing one of their opening games against King, 3-0, and defeating Bluefield State, 3-1.
Game One - GSU 0 | KU 3
In the Pioneers' first game of the classic, they were matched up with the Tornados of King University. In the first set, the Pioneers started off back and forth, until the Tornados gained momentum, notching a vast lead to pull away, 25-15. Set two started the same as the opening stanza, but GSU fell once again in a closer match of 25-21. Down two sets, GSU started off ahead in the third and had another close match, but a strong finish by King closed out the final set, 25-22.
Final Stats
King
Capri Johnson led the team in kills with eight while Isabella Statzer had six. Ella Kiser led in assists with 17, and Amaya Hall had 10. Statzer also had three blocks to lead the team, while Haley Harnichar had two and Rylee Blevins had seven digs.
Glenville State
Mikayla Curry and Gracie Brown led the Pioneers with seven kills, with Kendel Harris notching four. Madison Lee had eight assists and Irmak Bezek totaled seven, and Bezek had one service ace. Deniz Selen Yazar had two blocks, with Cecelia Bryant recording six digs, and Deniz Selen Yazar notching three digs.
Game Two - GSU 3 | BSU 1
GSU took on the host, Bluefield State, in their second game of the day. Both teams traded points back and forth in the early portions of the match. The Pioneers built their lead shortly after, consistently maintaining the lead and winning the first set, 25-15. In set two, the blue and white took an early lead once again. Just like the first set, the Pioneers stayed dominant and won, 25-19.
Set three would see Bluefield State build an advantage throughout the early and middle stages. Both teams stayed close, tying it up every other serve, until Bluefield State continued their momentum, taking the lead and beating the Pioneers, 25-23. Set four began with Bluefield State taking an early lead, but Glenville State kept up trading points to tie it up. Mikayla Curry was consistently dominant throughout this last set, allowing the Pioneers to finish strong and close out the final set, 25-22.
Final Stats
Bluefield State
Callesta Styles led Bluefield State with 12 kills, and Soniya Garner followed with nine kills. Tessa Heffner had 27 assists, and Styles had two blocks. Bluefield State's Anani Sheppard recorded four service aces, and Kaileigh Solis had seven digs.
Glenville State
Freshman Gracie Brown led the Pioneers with a whopping 21 kills with Kennedy Navey adding 12 and Mikayla Curry logging 10. Irmak Bezek recorded 31 assists, and Madison Lee had 17. Defensively, Curry finished with five blocks, and Selen Yazar notched two while Kassie Swink had 11 digs.
Up Next For The Pioneers
The Pioneers are right back at it tomorrow (Aug. 29) against Clinton and Bluefield State at 12 & 3 p.m.
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