Winston-Salem, N.C. — Blue Mountain Christian Volleyball started the 2026 season with a win Friday, sweeping Spartanburg Methodist in the first match of the Carolina Classic hosted by Carolina University.
The Volley Toppers (1-0) won in straight sets, finishing with a balanced offensive effort. They recorded 39 kills and hit .280 as a team. They also totaled eight blocks and 52 digs in the victory.
Salice Speed led the offense with nine kills and a .241 hitting percentage. She contributed across the floor with nine digs and four blocks, finishing with a team-high 12.5 points. Valeria Velez made an immediate impact in her first match, recording eight kills without an error on 16 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage. She also added 11 digs.
Mattie Hopper posted eight kills on 15 attempts for a .400 percentage. Marissa Gerleman added seven kills and two blocks, while Olivia Lewis helped at the net with five block assists and three kills on five attempts, hitting .400.
The team’s setters helped distribute the offense, with Olivia Domino leading with 12 assists. Sydney Tague added 10 assists, and Brenyn Wilbanks finished with nine. Defensively, Abbi Williams led with 17 digs, followed by Velez with 11 and Speed with nine. The team totaled 52 digs overall.
The victory moves Blue Mountain Christian to 1-0 as they continue play at the Carolina Classic in Winston-Salem.
