ROCK HILL, S.C. -- After two weeks on the road, the Winthrop University volleyball team returns to the coliseum for a two-game weekend homestand against Carolina foes, Western Carolina on Thursday at 6:00 p.m., capped off by the Battle of I-77 against Queens on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WESTERN CAROLINA
This will be the 23rd meeting between the Eagles and Catamounts, with the Eagles owning a 15-7 record against WCU. The first ever meeting between the two was in the inaugural volleyball season of 1971, with Winthrop taking the match two sets to none. Western Carolina took the most recent instalment of the matchup in 2024, sweeping the Eagles 3-0.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS QUEENS
Despite being 23.5 miles apart, the two squads have only faced off seven times before, with this being the eighth. The first showdown occurred in 1988, with the Eagles taking the match in sweeping fashion, 3-0. The most recent matchup between the Eagles and Royals happened a touch over 28 years ago, with the Eagles sweeping in three sets once again.
FOOT NOTES
- Head coach Heather Gearhart just eclipsed 50 career victories with last week's win over Alabama State
- Isabella Murray surpassed the 3,000 career assists mark, becoming the seventh in program history to do so
- Rachel McCollum tallied the first triple-double since 2012 for the Eagles on Friday against Alabama State, 16 kills, 23 assists and 10 digs
- Avery Jolley captured Big South Player of the Week honors for the week of Sept. 15
- Jolley hit .354 with 52 kills (4.73 per set), 27 digs (2.45 per set) and 59.5 points (5.41 per set) in three matches last week, capped off by setting a career-high 24 kills against Furman on Saturday
- Rachel McCollum and Isabella Murray were tabbed Big South Setters of the Week for the week of Sept. 15
- The duo of McCollum and Murray accounted for 129 assists over the weekend -- 85 percent of the Eagles assists). McCollum amassed 72 total assists in 11 sets played, along with 32 kills and 25 digs. McCollum had a near triple-double against Furman with nine kills, 21 assists and 12 digs.
- Murray totaled 57 assists in seven sets played (8.14 per set) in her appearances against Alabama State and Furman.
- Winthrop is the best team in the Big South when it comes to hitting percentage, ranking first in the conference with a .231 mark
- Avery Jolley continues to lead the charge for the Eagles, ranking first in kills per set at a mark of 3.41, second in the conference with 10.75 attacks per set, and fourth in total attacks with 344 attacks
- Paige Bennett totaled a career-high 21 kills against Charlotte on Aug. 30, with a .528 hitting percentage
- Multiple Eagles sit on the cusp of reaching career milestones; Jolley 59 kills away from the 1K mark, Laila Glover sits 11 kills away from 500, and Sophia Matthews is three digs away from 500
- Winthrop opens the year as ranked as preseason number one in the 2025 Big South preseason poll
- First time atop of the Big South poll since 2007
- The Eagles returns all its top contributors in the categories of kills (Avery Jolley, 320), assists (Isabella Murray, 963), digs (Sophia Matthews, 397), and blocks (Maeve Rehmann, 58)
- 81.5% of total kills remain rostered for 2025
- 81% of total digs are back for the 2025 season
- Last year, Eagles ranked third in the nation in digs per set, 18.84
- Eagles return 10 players from last year's roster, which includes
- Seven of the top eight Eagles in sets played are back in 2025
- Isabella Murray played all 91 sets for the Eagles last year
- Murray was tabbed as the 2024 Big South Setter of the Year
- Rachel McCollum appeared in all but one set (90) for the Eagles, named to 2024 Big South All-Tournament Team
- Jolley earned First Team All-Conference honors and earned the Big South Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year (first time since Pohai Nu'uhiwa did so in 2007)
- Giselle Little showcased elite efficiency in her freshman year,144 kills on just 397 swings (.374)
- Little was listed on the Honorable Mention All-Conference and was named to the Big South All-Freshman Team
- Sophia Matthews led the Eagles in digs in her as a freshman, 397
- Matthews earned Big South All-Freshman Team and was named on the Big South All-Tournament Team
- Alyah Cadavid is fourth amongst returners in digs with 147
- Maeve Rehmann and Paige Bennett round out the standout returners on the offensive side with 116 and 112, respectfully
- The Eagles have made the Big South postseason tournament for the last seven years
- Winthrop has six conference titles, tied for second most in Big South history and tied for the most of all active Big South members (Tied with Radford)
- This is the 54th season of Eagle Volleyball, with these three matches being the 1838th, 1839th matches
- Heather Gearhart enters her fourth season, one as an interim head coach and the last three as head coach
- Winthrop holds an 1092-744 record all-time (.595)
2025 HONORS
- Avery Jolley
- Big South Preseason Player of the Year
- Preseason All-Conference
- Winthrop Invitational All-Tournament Team
- Big South Player of the Week (Sept. 15)
- Furman Invitational All-Tournament Team
- Isabella Murray
- Big South Preseason Setter of the Year
- Preseason All-Conference
- Big South Setter of the Week (Sept. 15)
- Sophia Matthews
- Big South Preseason Co-Libero of the Year
- Preseason All-Conference
- Giselle Little
- Paige Bennett
- Winthrop Invitational All-Tournament Team
- Rachel McCollum
- Furman Invitational All-Tournament Team
- Big South Setter of the Week (Sept. 15)
ALUMNI WEEKEND
All former players, coaches, and staff members of the Winthrop volleyball program are invited for Alumni Weekend Oct. 24. The Eagles will have a home match on Friday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. versus Radford.
SEASON TICKETS
Lock in your seat for every serve, spike and set this season! Winthrop Volleyball season tickets are now on sale. Don't miss a single home match inside the Winthrop Coliseum as the Eagles take flight in 2025. Secure your spot today and be part of the action all season long.
Purchase Here!
BE A BALLRUNNER FOR WINTHROP VOLLEYBALL MATCHES
Interested in getting closer to the action of college volleyball? Winthrop Volleyball is looking for ball runners to help at home matches in 2025 and beyond. Become a ball runner for official games and be a part of our game day experience. Sign up as an individual or register an entire team/club to assist at a match and help keep play moving as ball runners. Open to students in grades 3rd through 8th. If interested please fill out the
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By investing in the Eagle Club, you're helping us build a stronger future for Winthrop Athletics—one that prioritizes excellence, opportunity, and a championship culture.
Whether you're an alum, parent, fan, or community member, your support fuels our success. For more information or to become a member,
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