Winthrop University volleyball leads off with a strong start to 2025 season.
By Dakota Gold
Staff Writer
Sports
Winthrop’s volleyball team kicked off the season with a scrimmage on Aug. 14.
The Eagles bring momentum from last season, where they reached the Big South Championship and the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
They return with the top contributors from last season.
Avery Jolley (senior) leads in kills, Isabella Murray (senior) leads in assists, and Sophia Matthews (sophomore) leads in digs.
The season began with a challenging game against Samford, where they lost in five sets after leading 2-0.
Though the loss hurt, performances by Jolley (13 kills) and Teagan Sychterz (12 blocks) showcased what the team is capable of.
Winthrop hosted Gardner-Webb, opening the conference play and continuing the 18-game win streak against the Bulldogs.
One highlight of the season thus far was the close game against High Point University. The Eagles rallied to win in a five-set thriller.
During this match, Jolley crossed the 1,000 career kills mark.
This match overall proved that the team knows how to come back in the face of adversity.
The team prides itself on the effort and energy put forth by the players and the coaches.
“We’ve had a lot of great coaches since my freshman year, and they do a great job in providing us with the tools to get better, but also pushing us to be a player-driven team and giving us autonomy in that sense,” Jolley said.
“They also provide great leadership in growing us as people, which I think helps our program excel.”
The team builds community as they encourage each other on and off the court.
Jolley said that they have become more honed in on the process of maintaining a “championship culture” over the years. This includes pushing one another towards their goals.
A tough loss came at home this past week as Winthrop lost 2-3 to USC Upstate, breaking their home win streak.
Even through the losses, the team’s spirit and ability to bounce back will prove to be a threat in the conference play.
The Eagles have made for an exciting season so far as they band together to face challenges.
Their next match is on Oct. 17 against Charleston Southern.
Winthrop volleyball’s current overall standing is 9-6.
