By: Avery Bangsund

After finishing last season with a 15–15 record, the Lady Bobcats entered 2025 determined to prove they could compete with the best in the Mountain East Conference.

Last year, the volleyball team had a rough end to the season. Their leading players consisted of Alexis Moeschler, Brooke Axe, and Emily Denison. With three seniors gone and a new group of freshmen joining the roster, the returning leaders were determined to spike a better record this season. 

The Lady Bobcats started the season by winning two out of their four matches in the early September Glenville Tournament. In three of these matches, they either got swept or swept their opponents. The only close match they played was against Glenville State where they went on to play all five sets and lost 2-3. However, that loss only boosted their drive to win, and they later swept Glenville 3-0 at home here in Buckhannon. 

Emily Denison, one of the leading players and a junior on the team, talks about how much this team has improved and how blessed she is to be a part of it. “I think the team has improved the most by learning our own strengths and weaknesses along with how to communicate in the most effective way. I think that this group of girls is by far the most hardworking and genuine people I’ve played with in my collegiate career,” Denison said. 

Another important win for the Lady Bobcats came against Charleston, who is the leading team in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) southern division. The first match the Lady Bobcats played against the Golden Eagles this season was at their opponent’s home court. What looked like it would be another loss for the Lady Bobcats turned out to be a comeback no one saw possible. The Golden Eagles led two sets to none heading into the third and appeared to have the match in hand. Despite being down and a hopeless road ahead, the Lady Bobcats caught the Golden Eagles off their rhythm and were able to perform a reverse sweep to win 3-2.  

Wesleyan handed Charleston their only loss this season, so the Golden Eagles came to Buckhannon looking for revenge on the Lady Bobcats’ home court. Every set they played started out almost even. Each team traded points back and forth, making it look like an everlasting set. However, the Lady Bobcats were able to take a small lead over the Eagles, and swept the Golden Eagles at home 3-0. This win came after a three-match losing streak for the Lady Bobcats and was a crucial win to gain some confidence back before they head into their final regular-season matches and into playoffs. 

The volleyball team is at a 14-8 record this season. The MEC Championship will begin on November 20, with matches taking place between the 20th and 22nd. With confidence high and playoff hopes alive, the Lady Bobcats are ready to claw their way deep into the postseason.

Photo by: Amanda Hayes