MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat volleyball team kicked off Homecoming & Family Weekend on the campus of Montreat College Friday evening when it hosted the Bryan College Lions in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest. Playing inside the confines of McAlister Gymnasium, the Cavaliers not only claimed their first win over Bryan since 2019, but also Kamryn Wolf hit a major career milestone with her 1,000^th kill.
 
Thanks to Wolf's career highlight and a five-set triumph, the hosts remained perfect on the year as their record climbed to 4-0 (4-0 AAC). This marks the first time the Cavs have started 4-0 in conference play since 2017, as well as the first instance in which they've won their initial four contests overall since at least 2004.
 
Montreat and Bryan (1-10, 0-4 AAC) traded points during the opening set. In a frame that featured 10 ties, it was a late surge that handed the Cavaliers an early advantage. All even at 21-21, Wolf's sixth kill of the set started a 4-0 run to end the frame. Wolf and Harrington teamed up for a block that gave the hosts set point, and a Harrington attack closed the deal, 25-21.
 
The Lions appeared poised to bounce back in the second as they captured the initial five points. Even after the Cavs erased BC's lead midway through the frame, the visitors managed to rebound and seize a 24-21 edge. Bryan couldn't put the set away, however, and Montreat staved off three set points while ending the frame on a 5-0 run. Three of those five points came via blocks from Shalice Lynch, Reese Davis and Maggie Stewart. Harrington and Allie Anderson aided down the stretch with a kill and an ace, respectively. As a result, the Cavaliers held a 2-0 set lead thanks to the 26-24 victory.
 
Wolf notched the 1,000^th kill of her Montreat career during the third set in a big moment. The senior tied the frame up at 20-20, keeping the Cavs' hopes of a sweep alive. Despite the milestone, the Lions managed to back themselves out of a corner and keep the match going behind a 25-23 third set.
 
Montreat owned the upper hand midway through the fourth after back-to-back blocks extended the hosts' lead to five (12-7). With their comeback dreams on the line, a well-timed timeout allowed the Lions to regroup. Bryan quickly flipped the script and vaulted in front, 15-14, and it never trailed the rest of the set. Thanks to back-to-back kills and a narrow 26-24 win, the visitors extended the contest into a fifth and final frame.
 
The hosts saved their most efficient attacking frame for last. Twelve kills, six of which came from Wolf, and a .219 hitting percentage powered the Cavaliers to a five-set triumph. Montreat led by as many as seven points (9-2) in the fifth, and it held off BC's late charge to take the frame, 15-13.
 
"Today's game was a true battle—starting strong, facing setbacks and ultimately pulling through with a five-set win. Every set was a fight, and our team's dedication and effort showed in each point," said head coach Cristina Viera."
 
Kills (60-59 MC) and assists (54-52 BC) proved nearly even when the match concluded. Bryan had a significant edge in digs (88-63), but the Cavs negated much of that edge thanks to their own dominant statistical performances in service aces (10-4) and blocks (13-8). Montreat hit .141 for the match compared to the Lions' .130, and it committed four fewer errors (37-33) than its counterpart.
 
Like she has all season long, Wolf paced the hosts with a match-high 25 kills.
 
"Kamryn hit a huge milestone today with her 1,000^th kill," Viera added. "Her hard work and relentless effort on the court continue to make an incredible impact on our team. I'm proud of everything she's accomplished, and I know there's more to come."
 
Harrington tied her career-best offensive output with 14 kills, while Davis eclipsed her previous top mark with nine kills. Davis ultimately registered a double-double with 18 assists and a team-best 15 digs. Wolf also accrued a double-double thanks to her 12 digs in the win. Harrington, Davis and Lynch each racked up six blocks to lead the way at the net. Katie Alexander led the squad with 24 assists and four aces. Meanwhile, Cate Hale tallied 12 digs and eight assists.
 
Montreat continues the Homecoming & Family Weekend festivities tomorrow morning when it welcomes Tennessee Wesleyan University to campus. First serve is slated for 11 a.m. inside McAlister Gymnasium.