GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Montreat College volleyball team finished up its 2026 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) slate on Saturday afternoon with a 25-21, 25-22, 25-11 defeat at Brenau University. Following the result in Gainesville, Ga., the Cavaliers' record shifted to 6-20 (4-15 AAC), while the Golden Tigers' record climbed to 19-8 (12-6 AAC).
BU started the match with six straight points, setting the tone early in set one.
Maggie Furches delivered an unassisted kill to help the Cavs settle into the contest, while
Josie Leatherman and
Elizabeth Harrington registered kills off passes from
Taylor Shaw to aid the visitors in halving the deficit to 11-8.
Bonnie Trautman and
Madysan Mauney also notched successful attacks as the frame reached its latter stages, keeping Montreat within 22-19. Despite receiving contributions from several players, Brenau was able to eke out a 25-21 set victory.
The Cavaliers played from in front for much of the second frame, with two Harrington kills and a Leatherman attack staking the away side out to a 3-0 advantage. BU responded for a brief 6-4 lead, but Mauney helped start and finish an 8-0 spurt with a kill and a block assist, joining Trautman at the net. Trautman also had a solo block during the run, and Furches supplied a kill. Leatherman spikes aided Montreat in maintaining its lead through the middle portion of the set, but the Golden Tigers eventually drew level at 17-17. Another solo block from Trautman put the Cavs back in front at 21-20, though the hosts claimed five of the final six points to win the frame, 25-22.
Judah Reece accounted for the visitors' lone point during Brenau's late run.
Sensing the chance for a sweep, the Golden Tigers never trailed in the third set. Shaw assisted a Mauney attack to knot the frame at 1-1, but BU answered with five of the ensuing six points. A Furches kill helped pull the Cavaliers within 6-5, and effective attacks from Furches, Leatherman and Trautman trimmed the gap to 10-8; however, that proved to be as close as Montreat could get the rest of the way. Brenau won 15 of the next 18 rallies, including the final nine points. Ultimately, a 25-11 third set capped off a sweep for the home side.
Both squads generated three blocks on the afternoon, but the Golden Tigers held statistical advantages in hitting percentage (.204 to .104), kills (37-27), assists (35-22), digs (47-36) and service aces (4-0).
Leatherman led the Cavs with nine kills while hitting .208. Shaw finished with 18 assists and four digs. Harrington added six kills and six digs. Trautman recorded three kills and a team-high three blocks, including two solo efforts.
Isabella Farmer and
Brittany Jack paced their teammates with eight digs apiece.
The Montreat College volleyball team closes out its 2026 season on Friday, Nov. 6, when it visits Carolina University for nonconference play. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Winston-Salem, N.C.
