Volleyball Recap

By MILES SOUZA

Beloit College volleyball’s season is in full swing. The Bucs started their season just short of a month ago and are looking to build off of some promise that has been present in their first portion of the season. 

Beloit is looking to take on the season with a team of almost all returners, as only one player has graduated since last season. They also brought in four first years who have each been contributing and have seen opportunity in the first nine games of the season. 

The Bucs started their season out with two close, competitive, non-conference games. Their season opener was a road game against their close, Interstate rivals, the Rockford University Regents.

It was a packed and boisterous stadium. The two teams faced off as they both looked to capture their first win of the season in their opening game. 

Rockford looked to be dominant early until the Bucs pummeled the Regents in the second set. After a second set win of 25-15, the Bucs looked to really be in control of the game, avoiding the Regents singular, powerhouse hitter, who transferred back to her hometown school. 

Unfortunately, the Bucs lost their edge and began to slowly fade away. They still put up a fight, but ultimately dropped the game 3-1. 

The Bucs then traveled to Alverno College in search of their first win. The team came out hot and rolled through the first and second set. They won the first 25-21, and dominated the second, 25-10. 

After another dominating second set, the Bucs seemed to have found their groove and were looking to finish the game off quickly in the third. However, they ran into a wall of flames as the Inferno started to push back considerably.

After two commanding set wins for the Inferno, things were all tied up at two sets a piece. The Bucs then roared back, as they found a second wind and took the last set, 15-8, capturing their first win of the season. 

This was also a record breaking night for the Buccaneers as freshman setter/right side Selin Tufte ’28, broke the record for service aces in a single game. Her 10 aces against Alerveno is the most by a single player since 2015, with the previous record being 8.

The Bucs have had a very busy schedule since these opening two games, with multiple tournament appearances and lots of talented opponents. 

The first trip was to the Marilyn Scribner Innovational, where the Bucs challenged three very talented programs. They suffered defeats in all three. 

They then held two home games, with a couple of competitive sets, but lost both. They traveled to Milwaukee for a double header the same week, where they also dropped both. 

The team will continue to look for big contributions out of their four senior starters. This includes libero Kaci Watanabe ’25, middle blocker Camille Ledoux ’25, and outside hitters Siddalee Meyers ’25 and McKayla Simao ’25.

Beloit will host back to back home games Tuesday September 24 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. against Coe College and a rematch against Rockford University.

Featured Image Credit: A.D. Santiago Beloit College Athletics