BUIES CREEK, N.C. — Stetson volleyball battled through a pair of matches Friday at the Campbell Invitational, falling to Ball State, 3–0, before dropping a 3–0 decision to Furman. The Hatters pushed both opponents in multiple sets, including holding a lead late in the second set against Ball State and mounting a late comeback in the third set against Furman.
Stetson opened the day against Ball State, falling by set scores of 15–25, 20–25 and 15–25.
The Hatters battled back from early deficits in the opening set, using kills from
Kayla Balfour and
Lelia Fitz to tie the score at 3–3 before
Sofia Torcello's kill evened the set at 9–9. Ball State responded with five straight points to take control, and the Cardinals went on to close out the set, 25–15.
The second set remained tight throughout, with Stetson building an early 4–1 advantage behind a
Soraya Teston kill and an
Andrea Diaz Dominguez service ace. The Hatters continued to answer behind kills from Diaz Dominguez and
Karsu Bayraktar before Ball State eventually tied the set at 19–19. The Cardinals scored four straight points from there to take the set, 25–20, despite a Bayraktar kill stopping the run at 23–20.
Ball State broke open another close set in the third, turning a 12–10 lead into a 17–10 advantage with a five-point run. The Hatters had stayed within striking distance early, tying the set at 6–6 before moving ahead 7–6 on a Diaz Dominguez kill assisted by
Larissa Hiemer. Stetson added late kills from Teston and Bayraktar, but Ball State closed out the set, 25–15.
Diaz Dominguez led the Hatters with seven kills against Ball State while adding seven digs, a service ace and 8.0 points. Hiemer recorded 10 assists and 10 digs, while Perez led the team with 11 digs and added six assists. Bayraktar finished with six kills, four digs and a block, while Torcello added three kills on .300 hitting, two blocks and a service ace.
Stetson returned to the court Friday afternoon against Furman, falling by set scores of 24–26, 21–25 and 23–25.
The Hatters faced a nine-point deficit in the opening set after Furman moved ahead 16–9, but Stetson fought back behind kills from Teston, Torcello and Balfour to tie the set at 19–19. Perez then put the Hatters in front, 21–20, with a kill before Furman answered in the closing points to take the set, 26–24.
Stetson took control early in the second set, using a six-point run to turn a 4–3 deficit into a 10–3 lead. Shevchenko helped fuel the run with her serving, including an ace, while Diaz Dominguez added two kills. Furman responded with a run of its own, tying the set at 16–16 before moving back in front. The Hatters battled back to tie the score at 18–18 and briefly took a 20–19 lead, but Furman scored five of the final six points to win the set, 25–21.
The Hatters made one final push in the third set, scoring six straight points after Furman reached match point at 24–17.
Maia Pou served the final five points of the run, while Diaz Dominguez and Fitz recorded kills and Fitz teamed with Shevchenko for a block. Furman answered with a kill on the following rally to close out the set, 25–23.
Diaz Dominguez again led the Hatters offensively with nine kills and eight digs while hitting .261. Perez paced the defense with 13 digs, while Shevchenko recorded 13 assists, five digs, three block assists and a service ace. Fitz added seven kills and three blocks, including one solo, for 9.0 points. Pou finished with 12 assists and five digs.
Up Next
The Hatters close out the Campbell Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 12, against host Campbell at 10:30 a.m. at Gore Arena in Buies Creek, North Carolina.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
