GREENWOOD, SC -- Meeting on the court for the first time in almost 31 years, UVA Wisetook the first set Lee came back to take the next three sets and claim the 3-1 victory Friday afternoon in the Redderson Invitational.
The last time UVA Wise and Lee faced off in volleyball was in 1995, a time so long ago the entire team and coaching staff weren't even born yet. In their last meeting on Oct. 14, 1995 in Paul Dana Walker Arena in Cleveland, Tennessee, it was the Clinch Valley Highland Cavaliers under the direction of Coach Wendy Cline facing off against the Lee College Flames in a Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference. Lee was coached by Andrea Hudson, then in her fifth season -- she would coach there until 2020 and retire with 843 wins.
Today, it was the 2026 season opener for the Cavs, and their first match under new head coach
Alexis Ivey.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: Lee 3, UVA Wise 1 (23-25, 25-25-17, 25-16, 25-10)
Records: UVA Wise (0-1); Lee (1-1)
Location: Greenwood, South Carolina | Finis Horne Arena
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- UVA Wise and Lee traded early points, with
Serina Petersen and
Riley Brandon each contributing kills to keep the score tight at 10-10.
- The Cavaliers gained momentum with a run of six consecutive points, including kills from Brandon and Petersen, to move ahead 16-11.
- The Flames responded with a rally, narrowing the deficit to 19-18, highlighted by a service ace from Mikayla Buhr.
- UVA Wise held off Lee's late push, with a crucial block by
Isabella Baylor on Payton Danley securing a 25-23 set victory.
Second Set
- Lee capitalized on early errors by the Highland Cavaliers, opening a 3-0 lead with a block by Jolie Brockman and Payton Danley.
- Avery Sample's service ace extended Lee's lead to 5-2.
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Maggy Sechrist recorded multiple kills, helping UVA Wise reduce the deficit to 11-14.
- Esthefany Rabit led the Flames' offense with consistent kills, contributing to a 25-17 set win for Lee.
Third Set
- The Cavs took an 8-5 lead after a sequence that included a service ace by
Isabella Baylor.
- Lee responded with a 4-0 run, capped by a service ace from Berra Soyler, to tie the set at 8-8.
- Brandon's kill later brought the Cavaliers even at 15-15, but Lee surged with a 10-1 run, highlighted by Payton Danley's multiple kills.
- Lee closed the set with a kill by Gunny Brock, taking the set 25-16.
Fourth Set
- Lee initiated the set with a quick 5-1 lead, powered by Jordyn Butler's two early kills.
- Brandon's consecutive service aces narrowed the gap to 6-5, but Lee responded with a decisive 6-0 run to stretch the lead to 12-5.
- Gunny Brock and Jordyn Butler each contributed multiple kills as Lee extended its advantage to 20-7.
- Despite a late effort from UVA Wise, Lee secured the set 25-10, concluding the match.
GETTING WISE
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Riley Brandon flirted with a double-double as she co-led the team with 11 kills and had nine digs.
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Maggy Sechrist also had 11 kills and had five digs in her collegiate debut.
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Madilyn Pardue facilitated the offense with 22 assists over three sets.
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Serina Petersen was effective at the net, recording three solo blocks.
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Abigail Curtis provided defensive stability, collecting 12 digs across four sets.
- This is the 43rd season of UVA Wise Volleyball. The school fielded a team from 1969-77 before the program went on hiatus for 15 years. The modern era of the program started when the sport was revived in 1992.
UP NEXT
Looking ahead, UVA Wise will close out the Redderson Invitational on Saturday when they face Converse at 12:30 p.m. and host Lander at 5:30 p.m. The meeting with Lander will be of interest as Coach Ivey will be facing her former team as she spent the last four seasons at Converse.
