FRANKFORT, Ky. – Volleyball opened the 2026 season with the Kentucky State Tournament in the state capital today, pulling out a comeback 3-2 victory over Shawnee State before falling in five sets to Georgetown (Ky.) 2-3.
MATCH ONE: Shawnee State 2-3 Kentucky Wesleyan
Despite falling in the opening set, the Panthers rallied back to defeat Shawnee State in five sets 25-16, 22-25, 25-20, 17-25, 13-15 to open their Kentucky State Tournament.
Hadley Wolfe led the way for the Panthers with 17 kills while
Mackenzie Bristol made eight blocks and
Sophie Spanier added 24 digs.
After falling behind 1-0 to start, Kentucky Wesleyan evened the match with a 25-22 victory in the second set. The two sides battled evenly for most of the set before three consecutive unanswered points from the Panthers gave them the lead and ultimately secured the set.
The third set followed a similar script, but the Bears caught fire late, closing the frame on a 6-1 run to retake the lead 2-1. Shawnee State scored four kills during the stretch while the Panthers committed two attacking errors. Kentucky Wesleyan responded emphatically in the fourth set, dominating 25-17 to force a decisive fifth. After falling behind 3-0 early, the Panthers answered with six straight to take a 6-3 lead and never looked back, maintaining at least a three-point advantage the rest of the way.
In the final set, Shawnee State clawed their way back after an early deficit to tie the set at 12-12. A service error from the Bears put Kentucky Wesleyan back in front, 13-12, and the Panthers capitalized on the opportunity. Kills from
Ella Thomas and Wolfe helped Kentucky Wesleyan close out the set 15-13 and secure the five-set victory.
MATCH TWO: Kentucky Wesleyan 2-3 Georgetown
Kentucky Wesleyan battled back from an early deficit but ultimately fell to Georgetown in five sets, 25-21, 19-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-10.
Hadley Wolfe led the Panthers with 15 kills while
Mackenzie Bristol added six blocks, and
Sophie Spanier recorded 17 digs.
Emmy Goering also finished with 12 kills for Kentucky Wesleyan.
After Georgetown took the opening set, Kentucky Wesleyan answered in the second. The Panthers built an early advantage before the Tigers pulled within one late in the frame. KWC responded with three straight points to create some separation and closed out the set 25-19 to even the match.
Georgetown regained control in the third set, using a strong stretch midway through the frame to pull away from the Panthers. Kentucky Wesleyan stayed within striking distance early, but the Tigers extended their lead down the stretch to take the set 25-18 and move back in front 2-1.
The Panthers came out strong in the fourth set, turning a 5-5 tie into a nine-point advantage with a 10-1 run. Georgetown attempted to close the gap late, but Kentucky Wesleyan continued to answer with kills from Wolfe, Goering and
Gracie Lewis. The Panthers held on for a 25-20 victory to force a fifth set.
In the deciding frame, Georgetown jumped ahead 8-3 before Kentucky Wesleyan mounted a comeback. The Panthers pulled within one at 9-8 after a kill from Bristol, a kill from
Abigail Butterworth and a service ace from
Gracie Lewis. Georgetown answered with three consecutive points, though, and held off KWC the rest of the way to claim the fifth set 15-10 and the match 3-2.
Kentucky Wesleyan volleyball concludes the Kentucky State Tournament with matches against Young Harris at 12 p.m. CT and hosts Kentucky State at 4 p.m. CT.
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